Who cares for the carers?

Hello to all and welcome to Tuesday,

Today I simply want to shine some awareness on all the unsung heroes in our communities. Those people who quietly go about the business of supporting friends or family members who are going through challenging times, whether emotionally or physically.

People who are giving of themselves on a constant basis, to make the life of someone around them that little bit better. Those people who are often doing it tough, with a smile on their face and endless amounts of energy and joy, to keep the person around them afloat and full of hope and optimism.

But who is there to keep the carers afloat and fill them with this same hope, optimism and joy that they are cultivating for the person they care for on a daily basis?

Well – to me  - I think that this is perhaps a role we can all fill – simply be being aware.

Simply by asking questions like:

” Heh – do you need a break once a month? I could come over and help you out on the last Friday of every month, so you can have a day off…?

or perhaps

” Heh – you look like you could do with a break – would you like to join me for a coffee this afternoon?”

or maybe

” Heh – I thought it would be cool to pop over and have a coffee one afternoon – what day and time works for you?”

Of course every situation is different, and sometimes carers can not leave their home, which is why offering to pop by one afternoon could be a real lifesaver – giving them the chance to chat, debrief and de-stress with someone.

Offering to meet up for a coffee, could give them that opportunity to get out of the house for a while and feel connected to the outside world again. Or putting them in contact with a great support group could also help with this.

Suggesting a few days a month when you can come by and take over the carer duties could be the most amazing thing ever – giving that person the chance to go to the hairdressers, take a walk in the park or get some odd jobs done. And imagine – if there were 4 people all willing to give one day a month – that could mean an incredible one day off a week for the carer concerned.

It is funny how we tend not to notice things unless we come into direct contact with them. And for me, I have suddenly, in the past year come into contact with a lot of these situations. A good friend acting as sole carer for her mother, an acquaintance who was sole carer for her father, some friends who have recently become single mothers and the many partners and friends who have taken on the role of carer for their loved ones facing the challenges of Parkinsons at my Dance for Parkinson’s class.

All these people have something in common.

They are all the most wonderful, giving, caring, hard working, optimistic, selfless and resilient people.

People who go out into the world every day and  make a real difference to those around them.

So today – spare a thought for the carers.

The unsung heroes of our communities.

The life force of our communities.

The glue that keeps our communities together.

Now  - I am sure they would not have it any other way.

I am positive they all love caring for their loved ones.

But – I also know that beneath the surface is a human being that also needs to be loved and cared for too.

A human being who could do with being seen and heard and cared for too sometimes.

A human being who whilst happy to assist others, also needs to be replenished sometimes from an outside source.

So today – my suggestion is simply this. Perhaps you could be that outside source.

So spare a thought for the carers around you.

Perhaps – if we all offer that little bit of assistance where we can and where it is needed, we could collectively take the pressure off and make a real difference.

Be it one cup of coffee, a friendly ear, a lift to the supermarket, the weekly washing of that person’s car, mowing the lawn once a month, popping in for a chat, taking over caring duties once a month [ within families this especially could be helpful to share the load ]  - who knows?

For you, washing a car may take 30 minutes and little effort at all – but to the carer you do it for – it may mean the world. Offering to drive someone to a dance class or similar, once a week can also be a life changing action, as if there is no-one to take you somewhere and you can no longer drive, you are left stuck. This can also free up the carer to do something else at that time.

Each situation will be completely different and of course each person’s needs are different too. And perhaps some carers would rather do it alone and do not want or require assistance? But the only way to find out is to offer the help and a friendly word and see what happens from there.

So for today – that is all I have for you.

Just a thought.

Something to ponder.

And perhaps, if it appeals to you – an action to be taken.

#DiscoverYou, #LoveYou, #BeYou

Christine