Stephanie - The importance of a life alongside caring
Stephanie - Carers Assessment Worker
It is rewarding to support carers. It is often not until they really cannot cope that carers tend to ask for help. Carers do a fantastic job which is hidden away from most people and so they get little acknowledgement or recognition for what they do.
I helped one person who cared for her husband at home. He had dementia which had progressed to a stage where they could not leave him at home on his own. She was very active and had some equipment at home but what she really missed was her weekly hobby of going out walking with a local walking group. Adult Social Care arranged for a carer to go once a week and be with her husband so that she could go out walking. This meant that she got a regular break, was able to be active and keep in touch with all of her friends. It meant so much to her, it made the difference between her feeling that she could not cope anymore and being able to keep looking after her own husband at home. She is really pleased with the service and happy that she is getting support in her caring role.