The aim of Carers Week (10 to 16 June) is to highlight the increasing pressure on unpaid carers and to campaign for their recognition and support. The theme this year is “Putting Carers on the Map”.

A carer is someone who provides unpaid care and support to a family member or friend who has a disability, illness, mental health condition, addiction, or who needs extra help as they grow older.

Retired accountant, Ghandhi Sooriyakumar, was an unpaid carer for her mother-in-law, who was in her eighties when she developed dementia.  Ghandhi and her husband looked after her for over seven years, until she sadly died from Covid-19 during the pandemic.

“When my daughter got married, we had a room for our mother-in-law, and she joined us. She got ill and had dementia and was very confused. I had to stop working and look after her so that we were able to support her all the time. She was very happy that we were looking after her.”

Ghandhi worked as a volunteer in the Redbridge faith forum and found out about carers support council and the volunteer sector in the borough, which offered her support, information and advice.

Ghandhi spoke about the many challenges to being a full-time carer of a loved one.

“Our challenges were finance-related but we were also struggling to manage our health and look after our mum 24/7. The carers who are looking after their bed-ridden loved ones should be looked after as well.”

Identification and support for carers is one of the priority areas for the Trust as part of the Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF). The Trust aims to change the experience of carers as they are an important part of this framework, and collaborating with local communities, voluntary organisations, and faith organisations.

Elizabeth Folarin, NELFT’s Associate Director of Social Work, Social Care & Carers, said: 

“Unpaid carers provide significant support to the NHS. It is therefore important to put carers on the map and give them not only the recognition they deserve but the support they need to overcome any potential challenges.

“We are focusing on identifying carers as soon as possible to ensure they are able to receive the appropriate care and support.

“We are proud to be working together with partner organisations to raise awareness of carers needs, promote their rights and develop opportunities to reward them for their contribution.”

To find out more about PCREF visit: Patient and Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF) | NELFT NHS Foundation Trust