Are you caught up caring?

This week is Carers Week, an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlighting the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK. It also helps people who don’t think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

There are around 6.5 million people in the UK providing unpaid care to ill, frail or disabled family members or friends, who couldn’t otherwise manage without their help due to an illness, disability, mental health or substance misuse problem.

Naturally, a carer spends a lot of their time focussing on looking after someone else. But it’s equally essential for them to take care of their own wellbeing too. Carers week is an opportunity to help people who don’t necessarily think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much-needed support.

Why is this important? Almost three in four carers in the UK say they’ve experienced a mental health problem as a result of caring, and over half say their physical health has been affected too.

There are benefits and support available to carers and it is worth taking the time to understand what you may be eligible for:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP): If caring for someone aged 16–65 who has a mental or physical disability, they may be entitled to PIP. A carer can claim PIP no matter how much they earn or have in savings.
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA): If the carer is looking after a child with a health condition or disability who is under the age of 16, they may be entitled to DLA. This can help towards any extra costs.
• Respite care: Taking a break from caring whilst the person being cared for, is looked after by someone else can allow the carer to disconnect from stresses and focus on themselves. A local council or carers’ centre can provide information about support nearby.

If you’re a carer, regularly supporting someone, read the Bank Workers Charity’s guide to find out about the practical things you can do in your role as a carer and how you can maintain your wellbeing. You can also find further support for carers online.

This Carers Week 2019, is themed on coming together to help carers get connected.

Here’s some ways you can get involved…

• Get social: Join the conversation online and help spread the word — use the hashtags #CarersWeek
• Do you know a carer? Have a conversation with them to see what support they are getting and signpost them if they need some support
• Host an event: Have a look at the various flagship awareness events and hold one at work during your lunch break
• Download resources: Help spread the word with posters and social media graphics

If you’ve been affected by any of the issues that we’ve discussed here and you want to talk to us confidentially, or if you want to give us any feedback on what’s been happening in your workplace: contact us at equality@accordhq.org