CARE FOR CARERS IS ALL TOGETHER BETTER
Long term carers, who devote much of their lives to look after a loved one, are being given a helping hand thanks to a care programme to support Sunderland’s most vulnerable. More than a dozen carers, who support some of the frailest people in the city, already have a listening ear, as part of a six-week programme of sessions to help tackle some of the challenges carers face day-to-day. Organised by Sunderland Carers’ Centre on behalf of All Together Better - an NHS England funded care model that is bringing together health and social care teams, alongside local support organisations to provide joinedup care to those who need it most - the sessions aim to share important information with carers to help them with their caring role. The free sessions are designed specifically for people who look after someone with particularly challenging conditions such as diabetes; heart disease or chronic breathing difficulties like COPD. Led by a carer support worker and specialist nurses, carers spend six weeks getting clinical advice on how to spot early warning signs associated with their loved ones condition before they develop into something more serious, as well as getting advice as carers around benefits entitlements and support available directly to them. Each sessions is two hours long, run at venues across the city and are open to anyone who cares for someone with a complex condition. They will be delivered during the day, evening or even on weekends to make sure they fit into the busy lives of the carers who attend and not only provide invaluable advice and information but also a respite opportunity, where they can meet other people in the same position. Val Armstrong from Sunderland Carers’ Centre who is running the sessions, said: “Carers play such a critical role in society, and they are so important to the wellbeing of people who are perhaps isolated or face social challenges due to ongoing health issues. “However, often carers can become as isolated as the person they are caring for, closing themselves off from their own social circles, in order to dedicate themselves to the wellbeing of their loved one. “These sessions provide an outlet for people who may otherwise not have a support network around them, giving them a chance to share their experiences and meet other people who are living with the same pressures. And more practically, the sessions are about equipping carers with information that will help them in their caring role and the confidence to make decisions around the care they provide.” To find out more, visit www. atbsunderland.org.uk