Carers Week

This Carers Week, we want to take some time to say Thank You for the valuable role that you play and to invite you to take some time out to take care of yourself too.

You might be thinking… but am I carer? And you wouldn’t be alone. Many people who have caring responsibilities don’t recognise that they can identify as a carer and that this can help them to access much-needed support.

Are you looking after someone?

Carer [noun]
/’keərə(r)

• Cares (unpaid) for family or friends who have a disability, illness or who need support in later life: Washing them. And their laundry. And their dishes. Keeping appointments. And records. And tempers. Giving medicine. And time. And hugs. Filling forms. And fridges. And silences.
  Dealing with doctors. And nurses. And pharmacists. And social workers. And benefits agencies. And care workers. And a lack of sleep.
• Needs support to manage a life of their own.

If this sounds familiar, then please know that we see you, we hear you and we thank you.

How else can we help?

• Would you like to meet your loved one’s team in a Meet and Greet session?
• Would you like to go ‘Through the keyhole’ and take a virtual tour of your loved one’s ward?
• Would you like more information from us about what services we offer – for example: Family Therapy or Restorative Justice?
• Would you like to see more specialised Carer Support Groups available, for example: BAME, LGBTQ+?
• Would you like to know more about your rights as a carer and how to get the support you are entitled to?
• Did you know Carer Rights Day is taking place on Thursday 25 November 2021 and  the theme is Carer fr Your Future? 

If any of the above would be helpful or if you have any other ideas or questions relating to how we work with families, friends and carers, please speak to your Family Engagement and Liaison Lead or our ward Carers Champions. 

Here are a few thankful thoughts from our team…

Thank you for taking the time to talk with us and for being so open and willing to tell us about your experiences before and since admission.

Thank you for helping us to understand the missing parts of the jigsaw when it comes to your loved one.

Thank you for your honest and constructive feedback about the ways we work and how we could better work together.

A number of organisations were involved in bringing together Carers Week 2021, including the following Carer Support Organisations:

• www.carers.org/
• www.carersuk.org/

Information on your local Carer Support Organisation can be obtained via your Family Engagement and Liaison Lead.

For more information visit carersweek.org