Supporting Carers In The Community

At Home Care Preferred, we understand that not all families can afford at home care for their loved ones and often result in taking on the carer role themselves.

With last month’s Carers Week raising awareness we wanted to highlight some key statistics and share some information about the unpaid carers of the UK.

According to Carers Week, a registered charity in the UK:

“Almost 72% of carers in the UK said they had suffered mental ill health as a result of caring, whilst well over 61% said their physical health had worsened.” National Charities  have warned that “unless more support is provided, the UK’s carers won’t be healthy enough to care for loved ones in the future.” In addition, “The UK’s unpaid carers are seven times lonelier than the general public.”

If you look after a relative or friend who is disabled or ill due to physical or mental health, you are a carer, even if you don’t think of yourself as one. Carers named the main cause of stress and anxiety is not getting enough sleep, managing financially and feeling of loneliness.

What to do if you care for someone?

Look after yourself:

The main thing is to take time for yourself and look after yourself. If you are caring for another person, you won’t be much use to them if you fall ill or are exhausted from overwork.

Make sure to eat well, exercise, get plenty of rest and keep up with your social life. All of these factors will help you feel good about yourself as well as keep fit and healthy.

Contact the council:

If you are a carer, contact your local council for a Carer’s Assessment. They will assess the needs of the person you are caring for, and identify what assistance you may need to continue caring for your loved one.

Speak to people who understand:

Often we need to reach out to people who understand our situation. At Home Care Preferred, we offer various services to our clients; such as companionship, post-op support, hospital escorts and respite care. Support can start from as little as a couple of hours per week, right through to live-in care and anything in between. Our packages are flexible and specifically tailored to the individual’s support needs.

We are happy to advise on unique care plans for our clients so you can find the help you need during a busy time in your life, or take some time off from your role as a carer to recoup.

We have locations nationwide and are happy to discuss your needs to find something that works for you – click here to find out more.