A message from Rotherham Council’s Director of Adult Care, Housing & Public Health, Anne Marie Lubanski:
This week is Carers Week, which each year recognises the invaluable work unpaid carers do to support their family and friends, and also highlights the challenges they face.
There are around 31,000 unpaid carers in Rotherham looking after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness or who needs extra help as they grow older. They are adults, children and young people who provide a range of support, including household chores, medical or personal care. For many, they don’t see themselves as carers, it’s just something that they do. Many carers provide this support on top of full or part time work, and even school and other studies.
Caring for someone can have a huge impact on the lives of those caring and being cared for, from relationships and health, to finances and work making the important job they do tough.
This year, with the outbreak of Covid-19, the challenges of caring have been amplified. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support.
Carers Week gives us the opportunity to recognise the difficulties carers are experiencing, show them respect for all they are doing, and ensure they are provided with information, support and understanding – and this has never been more crucial than now.
We know caring is tough. You pour your energy and love into supporting someone else – something that deserves nothing but the upmost respect and admiration. So, with that I offer my heartfelt thanks on behalf of Rotherham Council to our carers across the borough for all that you do. Please do take the time to care for yourself, you deserve it.
Support is available for carers in Rotherham. If the adult you support has an allocated social worker or social care assessor from the Adult Care and Integration service, you should directly contact the allocated worker for a discussion about your concerns and support needs.
If you do not have another family member, friend or neighbour to help and you think that you may need help from the Council, you can ask for advice, request a carer’s assessment or a social care assessment for the adult you support.
If you are providing necessary care to an adult in Rotherham and require a Carers Assessment, please call the Customer Contact Team on 01709 822330 or email singlepointofaccess@rotherham.gov.uk.
Once again, thank you.