Carers Week – Celebrating the Dedication And Compassion of Carers

7th June 2024
Pamela Smyth (Carers Development Support Officer, South Eastern Trust) & Judy Sinclair

This year to mark Carers Week, the South Eastern Health & Social Care Trust is shining a spotlight on the invaluable work carried out by Carers across the Trust.

Carers Week is an opportunity to recognise the dedication, compassion and resilience of those who provide care and support to family members and loved ones and to raise awareness of the vital role they play and the challenges they face.

One particular Carer, Judy Sinclair, a former Nurse from Killinchy, was a beacon of strength and compassion while caring for her mum Isa, who sadly passed away a few years ago.

Judy’s journey as a Carer began after her mother became unwell, but was later diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia, a progressive neurological disorder that affects thinking, movement, behaviour and mood. The diagnosis was a challenging and emotional time for Judy, but she embraced her role as a Carer with love and determination. Judy dedicated herself to providing the best possible care, navigating the emotional and physical demands with grace and strength.

Judy’s care-giving journey was not without its difficulties. She often faced sleepless nights, moments of frustration and emotional exhaustion. However, she found strength and support from other Carers and from the Trust’s Carers’ Support Service which provides an information signposting service for any Carer who looks after a family member or friend in the South Eastern Trust area.

Speaking about her role as a Carer, Judy explained, “My mum lived independently with my help until she became unwell and moved in with me and I became her full-time Carer.  It can be difficult to get a Dementia diagnosis, so Mum wasn’t diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia until much later.  A lot of Carers do not realise they are Carers until they are well into their caring journey.

“I loved looking after Mum, I wanted to do everything possible to ensure she was as comfortable as she could be in her last years. As Mum’s Dementia got worse, looking after her became more difficult, however, it brought us closer together.  We held each other, we sat beside each other, we held hands.  It was a special bond.

“Being a Carer can have a huge emotional impact on any individual.  Being a Carer can be so exhausting both mentally and physically, so it is important to take time for yourself and to get as much help and support as possible.  The Carers Support Service within the Trust along with the Social Work Service was so beneficial to me providing that extra bit of support. For other Carers out there who are struggling, my advice is to hang in there, reach out, don’t struggle.

“Carers need to be seen, they need to be listened to and they need to ask questions about their loved one, they know the person they are caring for best.

“Caring for Mum was both the most challenging and the most rewarding experience of my life.  It required a lot of patience, understanding and sacrifice, I have no regrets.”

Highlighting the important role of Carers, South Eastern Trust Carers Development Support Officer, Pamela Smyth said, “The Carers Support Service plays a vital role in supporting Carers to look after their loved one.  The service provides Carers with information, guidance, signposting and support and organises a range of information sessions and activity events for Carers throughout the year.  Bringing Carers together is important to allow them to get a break from their caring role, but also allows them to link in with others for peer support which is essential.

“Carers do a fantastic job and are very rarely acknowledged for their caring role which they carry out daily, often without breaks.  It is very important to emphasise that Carers need to look after themselves and their own health and well-being so that they can continue to care for their loved ones.

“It is essential that we support Carers, who tell us they find it hard at times as the caring role can be a challenge.  We need to be there to listen to Carers and support them, they are not alone, there is help and support available.”

For further information on the South Eastern Trust Carers Support Service, contact carer.support@setrust.hscni.net or phone (028) 4372 1807 or text (07900) 936 726.