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Some surprising facts from the Colonel
Some surprising facts from the Colonel
Carers
continued from page 1
Many adults who suffer, for instance, from drug and alcohol abuse problems are unwilling to even admit that they are ill, let alone that one or more of their children is being forced to look after them. These young carers often suffer emotionally and academically because they are looking after parents without the knowledge of the school or the support of the social services.
Those caring for people with mental health problems are also frequently amongst the hidden carers. The stigma still associated with mental illness means that many of them prefer to struggle on in silence and without help rather than reveal the truth. Even if they do ask for help, many carers find it difficult to get the support they need. Formal assessments of their situation take too long and Social Services are hampered by a lack of cash and a lack of resources.
Neil Traynor from The Princess Royal Trust for Carers(PRTC) says that while we can get our heads around the fact that we may have to care for our parents in the future, there are some situations that come as a bolt out of the blue. 'One carer I know had been looking forward to her retirement,' he reveals. 'A couple of days after she left work, her son was in the bath andslipped and broke his neck and is now completely paralysed. This sort of thing is not part of your lifeplan but you have to deal with it.' And people all over the country are doing just that every minute of every day.
Many adults who suffer, for instance, from drug and alcohol abuse problems are unwilling to even admit that they are ill, let alone that one or more of their children is being forced to look after them. These young carers often suffer emotionally and academically because they are looking after parents without the knowledge of the school or the support of the social services.
Those caring for people with mental health problems are also frequently amongst the hidden carers. The stigma still associated with mental illness means that many of them prefer to struggle on in silence and without help rather than reveal the truth. Even if they do ask for help, many carers find it difficult to get the support they need. Formal assessments of their situation take too long and Social Services are hampered by a lack of cash and a lack of resources.
Neil Traynor from The Princess Royal Trust for Carers(PRTC) says that while we can get our heads around the fact that we may have to care for our parents in the future, there are some situations that come as a bolt out of the blue. 'One carer I know had been looking forward to her retirement,' he reveals. 'A couple of days after she left work, her son was in the bath andslipped and broke his neck and is now completely paralysed. This sort of thing is not part of your lifeplan but you have to deal with it.' And people all over the country are doing just that every minute of every day.
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