Support is needed for life after caring

A LOCAL man who was an unpaid carer for his wife, is raising awareness about the lack of ‘structured support’ available when an unpaid caring role comes to an end. 

David Walker cared for his wife Georgina, who had Alzheimer’s, for over 10 years up until her death last year in August. He says that whilst there is support available to unpaid carers from many organisations whilst actively in their caring role, the support stops when their role does. 

“No one organisation is there to help to fill the enormous void that is created when the carer no longer cares,” says David, who was recently appointed to the voluntary role of ‘Carers Champion’ by the Melksham Area Board. The role will allow him to talk to and seek the views of Melksham carers on matters related to the services provided by Wiltshire Council and the NHS. 

He says that it is ‘not fair’ that a carer has to actively seek support, rather than have it offered to them and he is calling on those responsible for health and social care nationally to provide ‘structured support’ for unpaid carers when their role ends. 

David says, “Caring for someone with a terminal condition, at home, as any unpaid carer will confirm, can be a time consuming, demanding responsibility, which can have an overwhelming impact on a carer’s life and wellbeing, especially as the cared-for person’s condition deteriorates.  

“There are five major areas of impact which, to a greater or lesser degree, affects all carers – mental, physical, emotional, financial and social (there are others, e.g. spiritual etc.).  

“Being a full-time unpaid carer demands a constant mental awareness around what needs to be done, when, how, why, who. Similarly, caring can be very physically demanding, especially when the cared-for person’s condition deteriorates and the ability to assist or contribute to physical activity diminishes.  

“Watching someone you care for, and care about, inevitably places an emotional strain on unpaid carers. Every individual’s journey through the caring for, cared for will be different, but no matter how long or short, the destination is the same.  

“One of the biggest impacts on unpaid carers’ lives is the financial impact. The lack of financial support for unpaid carers, and the need for constant expenditure to keep on caring at home can be financially disastrous.  

“Finally, there is the social impact on carers specifically. As the caring demands increase, so the ability to maintain social contact and activity diminishes. Then when caring becomes 24/7, it disappears altogether. 

“While all of the above can become all consuming, they are also a reason to carry on and provide the best care for the person you care for. But what happens when it suddenly comes to an end?  

“All the reasons for getting up each morning, getting through the day, lying awake at night, having a purpose in life come to a halt. What happens to the carers when they no longer care? When they go from having someone in their life, and other activity happening in the home, to nothing. No distractions, no interaction, no support, no direction.  

“At the same time, those five major areas that have impacted on their carer role; mental, emotional, physical, financial and social, take on a whole new life of their own. While there are many organisations which provide support and information for unpaid carers while they are caring, once the caring stops, so does the support (with the possible exception of bereavement groups) especially any financial support. No one organisation is there to help to fill the enormous void that is created when the carer no longer cares. 

“If a carer does require support with any of the five major areas of impact, they have to go looking for it. And that is not fair.  

“Many unpaid carers have given up large tranches of their lives to ensure they could care for that individual at home, not in a care home, but in their home, a home that cared.  

“Not all ex-carers have the determination, will power, energy or as my late wife would say ‘sheer bloody mindedness’ to go looking for post-caring support.  

“It is time for those with responsibility for health and social care nationally to recognise not only the contribution unpaid carers have given during their carer role (especially during the pandemic – no one clapped for the unpaid carers), but that there needs to be available structured support for unpaid carers when they no longer have a caring role.” 

In his role as Melksham’s voluntary Carers Champion, David can be contacted by email:               ginavidwalker26@ gmail.com