Carers Week is an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness of caring and the challenges faced by unpaid carers.
It also recognises the contribution unpaid carers make to families and communities. It is led by Carers UK with the support of numerous charities. This year’s Carers Week runs from the 5th-11th of June and the theme is 'Recognising and supporting carers in the community'.
It is estimated that there are around 5.7 million unpaid Carers in the UK, which is approximately 9% of the population. Being a carer for a family member or friend is an unsung role and can impact a person’s finances, their employment and also their health and well-being. Carers UK play an important role providing expert information, advice and support, as well as campaigning to make life better for unpaid carers.
The Importance of Self-Care
Being a carer is physically and emotionally demanding. Carers continually put the needs of the person they care for ahead of themselves, which can often lead to exhaustion and burnout. It is crucial for unpaid carers to prioritise self-care, as this not only benefits their own well-being but also enables them to be better carers to their loved ones.
Self-Care Tips for Carers
Here are our recommended self-care tips for unpaid carers to help you better look after yourself, which ultimately means you will provide better care to your loved one.
Get Support
You are not alone! Reach out to family, friends, and local support groups for any support you need day to day. Carer support groups are especially good as they connect you with others who understand your challenges and can provide comfort and guidance.
Take Breaks
Take regular breaks from caring to relax and recharge your batteries. These don’t need to be long breaks, even 5 minutes can make a difference to your stress levels. Savouring a cup of coffee in another room or stepping outside to take in some fresh air can often provide much needed respite.
Look after your Health
Make sure you are eating a healthy well-balanced diet. What you eat can make a big difference to your physical and mental capabilities. Keeping yourself fit and active can also affect where physical and mental state. If you are unable to get out to exercise there are many classes online these days to help you stay active. Getting enough sleep each night is also vital for coping with the demands of caregiving.
Practice Self-Compassion
Caring for another person is hard work. Be kind to yourself and acknowledge that you are doing the best you can. Stay away from self-criticism and embrace self-care as a necessary component of your caregiving.
Stay Connected
While caring can be all consuming, it is vital that you keep up your social connections and make time to engage in activities that bring you joy. This can help prevent feelings of isolation and provide much-needed emotional support.
Educate Yourself
Take time to learn more about your loved one's condition and what resources are available to help. The more you know, the more you are able to make informed decisions and access the relevant support services.
Delegate
You can’t do it all! Trying to do everything for your loved one is likely to lead to stress, exhaustion and burnout. Learn to delegate some responsibilities to family and trusted friends. Sharing the caregiving load can make a huge difference to your well-being and life.
Engage Care Services
In-home care companies such a New Age Care can provide respite care options in your area. These services can provide temporary relief, allowing you to take a well-deserved break or a more permanent option of regular visiting care or live in-care.
Paid Carers
While the campaign run by Carers UK this week is aimed at unpaid Carers, at New Age Care, we use this week as an opportunity to thank our Carers for their amazing work, and to recognise the invaluable impact they have in the community.
The Carers at New Age Care choose caring as their vocation and really care about improving the lives of the people they care for. Whether they are a Visiting Carer popping in regularly for an hour or a Live-In Carer who is there 24 hours a day for the client, our Carers provide a much needed service in the community.