Celebrating Carers Week: Recogniisng and Supporting the Unsung Heroes in the UK

As I am an Unpaid Carer for my mum, I could not ignore that this week is Carers Week in the UK.  Being an unpaid carer for the last 2 years with little family or profressional support has taken a toll on me.  So I thought I would highlight what Carers Week is all about.

 

In the United Kingdom, Carers Week is a vital annual event that shines a spotlight on the selfless individuals who provide care and support to their loved ones. These individuals, known as carers, play a pivotal role in our society by looking after family members, friends, or neighbors who may have a disability, illness, or are elderly. Carers Week serves as a platform to raise awareness about the challenges they face, celebrate their remarkable contributions, and promote the importance of supporting carers nationwide. In this blog post, we'll delve into the significance of Carers Week in the UK and highlight the initiatives aimed at recognizing and assisting carers.

1. Understanding the Role of Carers: Carers are individuals who provide unpaid care and support to someone who requires assistance due to illness, disability, mental health issues, or old age. They play a crucial role in maintaining the well-being and quality of life of their loved ones. Carers often juggle multiple responsibilities, including personal care, emotional support, household chores, and managing healthcare needs. Their dedication and sacrifice are instrumental in allowing individuals with care needs to remain in their homes and communities.

2. The Significance of Carers Week: Carers Week, traditionally held in June, is an annual campaign that brings attention to the vital contributions of carers across the UK. The campaign aims to raise awareness about carers' challenges and needs, promote understanding and support, and ensure carers receive the recognition they deserve. The week-long event is an opportunity for organisations, charities, and communities to come together and celebrate the extraordinary efforts of carers while highlighting the importance of their well-being.

3. Key Objectives of Carers Week:

• Raising Awareness: Carers Week strives to increase public awareness about the diverse range of caring roles and the challenges carers face in their daily lives.
• Recognition: The campaign aims to recognise and celebrate the remarkable contributions made by carers, ensuring they feel valued and appreciated.
• Support: Carers Week emphasises the importance of providing carers with adequate support, both practical and emotional, to help them in their caregiving journey.
• Influence Policy: The campaign advocates for changes in policies and practices that can positively impact carers' lives, ensuring they receive the necessary support from the government, healthcare systems, and communities.

4. Activities and Events during Carers Week: Carers Week hosts a variety of activities and events throughout the country to engage carers, their families, and the wider community. These events include information sessions, workshops, support groups, social gatherings, art exhibitions, and fundraising initiatives. Local authorities, charities, and healthcare organisations actively participate in organising events to promote awareness, provide valuable resources, and deliver services tailored to carers' needs.

5. The Importance of Supporting Carers: Caring for a loved one can be physically and emotionally demanding, often leading to stress, exhaustion, and social isolation for carers. It is crucial to prioritise their well-being and provide them with the necessary support to maintain their own health and happiness. Recognising and supporting carers not only benefits the individuals they care for but also contributes to building a compassionate and inclusive society.

6. Resources and Support Available: Several organisations provide information, resources, and support for carers in the UK. These include:

• Carers UK: A national charity providing practical advice, information, and support for carers.
  
• Carers Trust: Offers a wide range of services, support groups, and access to local carer centers.
• Local Authorities: Contact your local council to find out about support available in your area.
• Health and Social Care Services: Healthcare professionals can provide guidance and information on available support services.

When it rains it f**king pours!

This post has taken some time for me to think about and the direction I wanted to take it.  There has been a lot going on in my life recently and it has felt that whenever I take a positive step forward, I get smacked in the face with a wet fish.  I know deep down inside that there is a light at the end of the tunnel per se, but it is difficult to see it now.  

Some people know that my housing situation is not ideal and at one point, there was 3 of us living in a 1-bedroom flat.  So, I have been sleeping on the sofa for over a year.  I asked my mum to move in so that she had someone to look after her, as her mobility has gotten worse due to rheumatoid arthritis.  We are currently living in a top floor flat that has only one entrance/exit that has one flight of stairs going doing three floors.  With my own health problems, I have been struggling with the stairs, but 5 months ago I slipped halfway down these stairs carrying my mum’s walker, as we were off to town.  I had the usual back pain but did some muscle damage in the area that holding my leg to my groin.  

So, I have been having physio for this and must use a walking stick.  I have even been making improvements with my leg.  Well last Wednesday, I woke up and starting to sit on the sofa and I felt something pop in the middle of my back.  I couldn’t event stand straight.  I called the GP and requested an afternoon appointment as I had to take mam to an urgent hospital appointment that couldn’t be missed.  Throughout the day it just got worse, but I grinned and bared it.  I won’t go into the details of the hospital appointment as that is not my story to tell but it was a lot to take in and I had to push my feelings aside and be strong for my mum.  Thanks to Nikita and Shel for taking use to the appointment and back.  You two are life savers, as where I live the taxi to the hospital where the appointment is, was £60 to £70 return. 

 

Well once we got home, I struggled climbing the stairs and it felt like something was rubbing.  I was walking around hunched over as this was the most comfortable position.  I couldn’t even sit down for long.  I went to the GP, and it is normally a 10-minute walk away and I had to stop after so long as my legs were becoming weak.  IT took me over half an hour to get there.  Well, the GP was very thorough in their examinations, but I had weakness in both legs and lost some sensation in them too.  The GP wanted me to go to A&E straight away, but I did decide to go against their advice as I had to keep an eye on my mum.  I just grinned and bared the pain and rested when I could.  I do know that I probably made whatever was wrong with me worse.

 

The next morning and I went to the Prince Charles hospital in Merthyr Tydfil (Different health board but closest hospital with an Accident and Emergency).  I was triaged within 45 minutes and then seen by a doctor within an hour and a half.  He did refer me for an urgent MRI, but he needed an orthopaedic doctor to see what was wrong.  He thought I may have compressed the nerves in my lower spine, and if left untreated it could have serious complications.  He said he would prescribe some pain relief.  Turns out he didn’t do that, and the nurses had to get another doctor to examine me again for the pain relief.  The MRI found that I have multiple slipped discs in my lower back.  After spending 20 hours in A&E, I found out that the one doctor told the on-call surgeon that he offered me to go home but I refused.  I was seen by the head of orthopaedics and was told that I did not require surgery.  I was just ushered out quickly without any further advice.  A nurse did tell me that it would be best to speak to my GP for pain management, so as soon as I left, I got on the phone to the GP.   He called me back as soon as I got through the door, and he said he could see the MRI and it didn’t look good.  Turns out that I have 5 slipped discs and one bulged disc that has caused my spinal column to narrow in that area.  He explained that I would need to be urgently referred to the spinal specialist and the pain team.  He also prescribed me Amitriptyline on a low dose to start working on the nerve pain and to continue my Zapain.

 

A few days later, even though I was taking it easy and only doing the basics at home, I was still in a lot of pain, so called the GP and he called back within 5 minutes.  He wanted to examine me properly and go through everything with me.  He was quite straight to the point and didn’t sugar coat the issue with my back, and I totally appreciate that.  Due to wear the damage is, I may never be able to stand up straight again.  I must slow down which will be difficult as I am like the Duracell Bunny who goes on and on and on.  He did say that there will be good days where I can be walking around as if there is nothing wrong with my back, but there will also be days or even weeks where I get bad flare ups, and I may not even get out of bed.  He also said that due to the flare up I am going through, it has caused muscular pain and has prescribed Naproxen for that.  So, I have to process and come to terms with physically I won’t be that bouncy bunny you will see at a comic con or running around doing his cleaning within an hour or 2.  I have found it takes me 3 to 4 hours just to clean my living room at the moment.  Even walking to the town centre, which is normally a 5-minute walk, it takes me triple that.  It is a lot to take in especially now that I have started the trauma work with my counsellor. 

 

If it wasn’t for the family, boyfriend and friends around me and there are too many to list, but I do not think I would be able to get through all that has happened over the last few years.  So, I think the point of this post is to just show no matter what is thrown your way, there are people out there who will be there and stand by you no matter what.  Even if they do not know the full extent of what is happening in my head or going on with my body, they do not judge me, and they are guiding me through my journey.  It is going to be a long one, but I know I will get there.  I still got to carry on and care for my mum and also start looking after myself more as I have been neglecting my own needs.  I do know that all this is out of my hands and I just have to come to terms with it and I will.  I do have some plans coming up and hoping to go to London Comic Con Winter as I miss my crew family and get my geek on and hopefully get to finally meet Clark Gregg.

 

Lately I have been listening to songs when I have started feeling low and relate certain songs to how I am feeling.  So each blog may have a video of a song I am relating to at the moment.  Even though I have all these "Negative Stressors" around me, I am UNSTOPPABLE!  Click on the link below and just stop and listen to the lyics.

Sia - Unstoppable

 I JUST ALWAYS REMEMBER THAT I AM NOT ALONE!

 

Bondy out!