Charlotte - The importance of supporting carers
Charlotte - Social Worker at All Age Disability Services
Informal carers are known to be providing huge levels of support for many people with learning disabilities and the way in which they know and love their family member or friend in a way that paid carers cannot replicate.
Many people’s main wish is to remain living at home with support from their family and friends, and if their family and friends are not supported to enable them to do this then it is not possible. Supporting carers is important for carers, but important for the person they are caring for too. If carers are struggling and feel unsupported then this impacts on whole families and relationships and ultimately can result in breakdowns in people’s mental and physical health.
Happy, well-supported carers will often mean better situations not just for carers but for the people they are caring for.
Carers offer a level and type of care that cannot be replicated anywhere else, and should be highly valued and respected.