Tag Archives: carersweek

What about the Carer? They have needs too

Wednesday, 27th June 2012

As part of National Carers Week, Care Alliance Ireland, is launching its Position Paper – ‘The Case for Carers Assessments’

‘For too long Family Carers have been taken for granted and treated as disposable assets. They now need to be treated as equal partners in care’ say Liam O’Sullivan, Executive Director, Care Alliance Ireland.

Devoted Kingston carer says mum is number one

David Lulham and his mum

1:50pm Saturday 23rd June 2012 in News By Nazia Dewji

After 30 years of caring around the clock for his elderly mother David Lulham remains devoted to his “number one mum”, but there is one thing the 59-year-old finds hard – lack of sleep.

The ex-motor-mechanic who suffers from back problems, diabetes and cataracts has been living with his 92-year-old housebound mother for 36 years helping to care for her basic needs.

The 59-year-old said: “I sleep every now and then. I am up every hour-and-a-half or so to get my mum to the loo. She goes to the bathroom a lot. I get exhausted sometimes.

“Half the time in the day she is asleep, but as soon as I go to sleep she says ‘David’.

“I’m just used to it now though.”

Been a carer since she was ten years old

It can be difficult and frustrating that carers’ work goes unnoticed

Since she was just ten years old, much of her life has been taken up with caring for her disabled mother, but Tasha Turnbull says she wouldn’t have it any other way.

The 17-year-old student admits that now, as she gets older and her caring responsibilities infringe on her social life – and potentially on her opportunity to go to university – she can sometimes feel frustrated about being tied down to caring for her mum Cheryl.

But she adds that she “wouldn’t want a complete stranger caring for her” in her place.

“At the end of the day, she’s my mum, and it’s important that she feels happy with who is looking after her,” the Hartcliffe teenager says.