Looking after a loved one?

[wendy]

A brand new guide has been produced to help unpaid carers deal with relationship issues.
Jane and John Clarke from Hellesdon say they find attending carer support groups such as Come Singing in Costessey really helpful.
If you’re a husband, a wife, a son, a daughter, a relation or a friend – and you are looking after someone who can’t manage on their own– the chances are it will have affected your relationships.
People often find it difficult to think of themselves as ‘a carer’ and because of this they often don’t seek support until they reach crisis. Inevitably, relationships are affected. Until now, there has been little advice out there to help carers manage the relationship issues they face.
But now Carers Trust UK has produced a new relationship guide for unpaid carers, covering issues such as; coping with the challenges of caring for your parent, husband or wife; dealing with frustrations, coping with family disputes etc.
The emphasis of the new guide is on preventing problems, rather than waiting until there is a crisis to get help. The guide encourages unpaid carers to access all of the support available to them in order to help them manage.
Jane Clarke, 70, and her husband John, 76, from Hellesdon celebrate their golden wedding anniversary this month. Jane says John was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2010.
“When we first had the diagnosis we thought it was the end of the world, but it’s not. We’ve met so many nice people.
John absolutely loves singing, so we really enjoy the Come Singing group in Costessey. We also go to the Pabulum café. There are some lovely people who go there. John has good days and bad days, so getting out can really help.
We’ve been married for 50 years this month. He tells me every day he loves me, even though he forgets other things. I’m very lucky. We’ve always been there for each other.”
Norfolk Carers is urging anyone who looks after a loved one or friend to make sure they’re getting all of the support on offer. The organisation’s Jo Phillips,
“It’s surprising how many people don’t realise there is a service in Norfolk to help unpaid carers. We offer a range of services which can help unpaid carers with many of the issues they face. For more information, call our free, confidential Advice Line on 0808 808 9876. It’s open Mon to Fri, 9-5pm and Sat 10-2.”
Notes to Editors
If you’d like to speak to Jane Clarke about her life as a carer, please call (01603) 920094.
Norfolk Carers is a one-stop service for unpaid carers in the county providing a range of services including practical and emotional support through a free Advice Line, Norfolk Carers Handbook, Time for You (short breaks for carers), Grants and Funding and Individual Support. For more information contact the free Advice Line on: 0808 808 9876 Text only: 07497 002864 Website: norfolkcarers.org.uk Facebook: /NorfolkCarersUK Twitter: @NorfolkCarersUK