The Isle of Wight Council and its valued partner Carers IW are celebrating National Carers Week with special activities and launch of a survey to support some of the 16,000 unpaid carers on the Island whose role is crucial; enabling people to live well and remain independent.
Started on 7th June 2021, National Carers Week on the Island is highlighting their invaluable work to support individuals who cannot manage without their help.
Who are unpaid carers?
An unpaid carer can be a person of any age who provides help and support to their partner, child, parent, relative, friend or neighbour. Help may be needed because of their age, health, have a disability, addiction, or mental health issues.
Some carers live with the person they care for and may spend many hours of the day looking after them. Others drop in on someone to make sure everything is okay, to bring them a meal, pick up prescriptions, administer medication or run errands for them.
Support from Carers IW
Carers IW have arranged a number of activities to support the Islands unpaid carers including:
- Dementia Training
- Carers Support Group Coffee Morning
- Carers Craft
Full details of these events and many other activities are available on the Website.
Gaudion: Survey will help shape the Islands Carers Strategy
Laura Gaudion, Assistant Director for Commissioning and Partnership and Head of Continuing Healthcare for Adult Social Care, Isle of Wight Council said,
“The local authority is proud to commission Carers IW to support unpaid carers both in the community and at St Mary’s Hospital. As a charity they have offered support, provided activities and advisers on the Island for over 30 years.
“Support is flexible and can be provided in a variety of ways including help completing a Carers Assessment, one to one emotional support, group support, peer support, dementia training, support through messaging and video calls, training, telephone support, drop-ins, self-care cafes, craft group, men’s social group, carer forums and respite weekends.
“We believe that services for carers should be joined-up across organisations on the Island. That is why the Isle of Wight, Council, Carers IW, NHS and other key voluntary organisations will be reviewing the current Carers Strategy, so to gather the views and experiences of unpaid carers that have been impacted by their caring role.
“With their help we can co-design services that work together to ensure that the most effective and efficient support is provided for those who need it most as well as raising the profile of carers ensuring that other professionals recognise carers as the expert.
“To support this work during Carers Week, Carers Isle of Wight is launching in partnership with the Local Authority the Carers survey which will help shape the Islands Carers Strategy, the survey launched on Wednesday 9th June 2021. The survey can be found on the Website or contact Carers IW”
Love: Carers survey is a good step in that direction
Cllr Karl Love, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, Public Health and Housing Needs said,
“Informal carers are incredibly important to Adult Social Care. I am delighted that our team are seeking the views of this important group of people about how future support and services can be provided.
“I am committed to being inclusive of Island residents; the carers survey is a good step in that direction.”
News shared by Isle of Wight council press office, in their own words. Ed
