Monthly Archives: December 2014

Carers Christmas, Past and Present

Carers Christmas 2014, Past and Present.

20th December 2014

By Maureen & Family Carers

Carers Present
It’s now that time of year again when many unpaid family Carers dread, everyday Services are either over worked or understaffed and some services and support services are closed over the holiday period making this time of year a time of fear and despair.
For many Carers Christmas time is no different to any other day of the year, their caring role and the loved one they care for have the same needs over Christmas and New year as they do every day of the year, this is one of the things that can leave a carer isolated from the rest as they cannot leave the house or have any time for themselves, friends and relatives in many cases keep their distance because they do not understand what it is like, anyone can become a carer at any time without warning, it is only then you understand and believe the isolation and stress it brings.

What’s it like to work as a care worker over Christmas?

  The role of carers in social care is crucial over the festive period. We speak to UK carers about their experience of the job

Every year tens of thousands of dedicated care and social care workers are needed to help look after vulnerable people over Christmas. Their role is crucial over the festive period, but what’s it like to work in the job during Yuletide?

“It’s not a job just for the money,” says Susan Law, who has worked as a care worker for more than 30 years for Leonard Cheshire Disability. “You’ve got to have a love of people and a willingness to help.”

Christmas is a particularly important time of year for carers, who look after the most vulnerable people in our communities. Their role at Christmas is to get each of the patients dressed and ready for the day with their families. “The continuity is important for those patients – they see a familiar face and keep their usual routine,” says Debra Watson, a care worker for Bluebird Care in Petersfield. “I particularly enjoy Christmas Day, going in and wishing everyone a merry Christmas.”

Tommy on tour to spread the word about dementia

For years, he toured the globe with some of the biggest names in pop. Now he tours hospitals, spreading awareness about dementia.

Tommy Whitelaw ran the global merchandising operations for U2, the Spice Girls and Kylie until 2007, when his mum, Joan, was diagnosed with vascular dementia.

He was her carer for five years, until she died in September, 2012. Now Mr Whitelaw, from Glasgow, works on the Dementia Carers Voices project with the Health and Social Care Alliance.