Carers Rights Day takes place on Friday 30th November 2018 and is an annual national awareness campaign, which aims to reach as many of the 6.5 million carers in the UK as possible with information about their rights and the financial and practical help they are entitled to; including benefits, such as Carer’s Allowance, breaks and access to equipment and technology which can help them in their caring role.
Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk help family carers such as Sue Hookham, by providing support, advice and guidance, as well as opportunities to take a break from their caring role.
Sue, 74, has cared for her husband David, who has Dementia, for around five years, and highlights that people do not always realise they have taken on a caring role when it comes to looking after a loved one:
“It is how life has evolved over the last few years, it is all now part of life. Though not a designated carer all that time, in retrospect I can see that some months before David was diagnosed with Dementia I started helping with, then organising medication, checking appointments.”
Along with the day-to-day tasks and running the household, Sue takes David out and about as he is not able to do so alone. This includes their regular visit to the Family Carers’ Hub in Ely, run by Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, Peterborough, Norfolk:
“With absolute no hesitation I can say that the Hub we attend is one of the things that my husband always wants to go to – because everyone can talk to everyone else and there is always something to do. This means that we have no problems is getting ready that day.”
We are attending a number of events on Friday 30 November to coincide with Carers Rights Day:
- Ely Family Carers’ Hub
- Care for a cuppa? at Stukeley Meadows School, Huntingdon. Join us for a drink and find out how we can make caring easier for you, now and in the future
- Anglia Ruskin University Tea Party an opportunity for students to socialise providing a safe space for them to seek information and support around supporting them, supporting others at university
- Information stand at the Louise Hamilton Centre, James Paget Hospital, Great Yarmouth 10.30am-3.00pm.
Charity CEO, Miriam Martin, said:
“It is important for all family carers to know what their rights are and to get support when they need it. We need to raise awareness of the needs of family carers within communities given that three in five of us will become a carer at some point in our lives. We want people to know what is available to them before they reach crisis point.”
