‘Lifeline’ wellbeing guide for carers published

Turning Point has published a new guide to help families and unpaid carers looking after vulnerable loved ones access the vital wellbeing support they need.

The charity said it could act as a ‘lifeline’ for nearly 9m carers across the UK who have been coping with looking after the needs of others during Covid-19 and who are now facing new restrictions.

The guide has been drawn up in response to concerns that many carers feel burned out, isolated and overlooked. This is as a result of the closure of services such as day centres and limited social contact with family and friends in response to social distancing restrictions.

It provides expert advice on issues such as practising self-care, letting go of negative emotions including sadness or resentment and taking breaks to have a chance to rest.

A section of the guide is also dedicated to planning for the future such as emergency planning and dealing with support workers as well as signposting carers to other sources of useful information such as Turning Point’s digital guide on grieving.

A number of reports have highlighted the plight of carers during the pandemic.

In May, a report claimed two thirds of dementia carers felt lonely during the early stages of the lockdown.

And in June, another warned that unpaid carers were twice as likely as the general public to have relied on a food bank during the first few months of the pandemic.

The research, carried out by the Universities of Sheffield and Birmingham for the charity Carers UK, reveals that 106,000 adults in the UK currently caring for someone outside of their household who is older, disabled or seriously ill, have used a foodbank.

‘Being a carer brings its own rewards, but it can be a lifelong commitment not just financially, but emotionally and physically,’ said Turning Point’s chief executive, Julie Bass.

‘Whether new to caring or having supported someone for decades, their mental and physical health is often taken for granted. Carers are vital in society and it’s essential they are able to access the help they need, when they need it.’

‘This guide will reassure carers that they don’t have to shoulder the burden alone,’ she added.

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