Mandy Street has been a Carers’ Support Coordinator at Improving Lives Plymouth since August 2019, and the role has been a real eye opener.
“I had been looking after my Mum over the past twenty years, supporting her mental health issues, as well as holding down a job as a domiciliary care worker. It was only when I started my job with Caring for Carers that I realised that I was, in fact, a carer for Mum, too.”
Colleagues soon realised that Mandy needed the support she was giving to others, and they helped her to access it for herself.
“My journey is typical of a lot of people who care for their loved ones,” said Mandy.
“They think a carer is someone who is a full time professional, and not them. But that’s not the case; what they are doing is a proper caring role and they have rights to access support for themselves.”
The key question that Mandy and her colleagues ask people is, ‘If you were not there to help, how would they cope?’ It may be just with shopping, or with multiple roles involved in caring for a spouse with dementia – whatever the level of care, once assessed and properly registered, carers can access a whole range of support.
“In all those years, I didn’t recognise myself as a carer,” said Mandy.
“And most of the people we assess say they just didn’t know where to turn for help. If they’re working, they don’t know they have rights to ask for flexible hours and unpaid leave. They may just want a weekly support group, to overcome isolation and identify with others; they may need help getting benefits sorted out. Whatever it is, we can help by starting with a simple assessment which most people find very beneficial.”
Mandy’s advice is simple: if your caring role impacts on your life at all, you should contact her team for an assessment to see what help may be available – it’s just a phone call away.
The Caring for Carers team are here to support you with understanding your rights as a carer, and to help you to navigate health and social care systems.
Get in touch by telephone on 01752 201890, text us on 07305058088 or email caringforcarers@improvinglivesplymouth.org.uk
