Carers Rights Day: Angelita's story!

Today is Carers Rights Day!

Every year, Carers Rights Day brings organisations together to help carers in the community know their rights and find out how to get the help and support they are entitled to.

This year's focus is on Caring Costs. Not just financial costs: caring could cost unpaid carers their wellbeing, their health, their relationships and much more...

We have talked to Angelita, a local unpaid carer, and asked her what caring has cost her.

Angelita cares for her sister who has Psychosis and Paranoia caused by drug and alcohol misuse. Prior to caring for her sister, Angelita looked after her mother and then her brother without any support until she was referred to Carers Network by the mental health team looking after her sister. “Just Carers Network being always there for me is a great comfort. The caseworkers I’ve dealt with over years have all been lovely. They’re patient and listen. I’m always being sent helpful information and I feel less alone and isolated now.”

Angelita found the Pandemic lockdowns the “hardest thing ever and especially demanding” on her caring role. She was firstly placed on Furlough from her job and was then made redundant. In early 2021 she was able to go on a Carers Network trip for a wellbeing walk in Kew Gardens. She loved the gardens and thought “I could really work here!” After talking to a member of the Kew team she found out how to apply for work and got a part time job. This flexible role fits around her caring responsibilities. “If it wasn’t for Carers Network and the trip, I wouldn’t have got the job! They have been a tremendous help and support. Through a grant they applied for on my behalf I am also now able to buy a new washing machine to replace my faulty old one.”

This Carers Rights Day we want to ensure carers like Angelita have the help and support they need so that they are best prepared to cope with the costs of caring.