Carers week runs from 10-16 June 2024, celebrating the work of unpaid carers across the country. There are estimated to be 6 million unpaid carers in the UK and provides an opportunity to recognise the contribution that carers make whilst raising awareness of the challenges that can come with being a carer.
Sarah鈥檚 Story
鈥淲hen working from home is working from their 丑辞尘别.鈥�
My mother-in-law lives with me, my husband and two children. She moved in with us after her partner passed away in 2020 and she couldn鈥檛 manage by herself. She needs help with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) such as managing finances, shopping, driving, and making meals. Her mobility and general health is not good, and she鈥檚 also had a few falls which means at times her care needs are greatly increased. When this has happened, I鈥檝e found my team and manager have been really supportive about sudden changes in my availability, or keeping me in the loop, as I鈥檝e had to provide more hands-on care at home or had to go to the hospital.
When she first came to stay there was a big period of adjustment for everyone, but we are now more settled into a routine. 聽She isn鈥檛 confident in going out by herself to local groups, so mostly relies on us for going out and about, and planning some more stimulating activities for her. There are usually good opportunities for after school clubs for children, but options are more limited for the elderly who can鈥檛 (or won鈥檛) socialise for whatever reason. During the working day I try not to shut myself away in a room, but will take a tea break with her.
As well as adjusting to different relationship dynamics at home, we helped her make sure she had her affairs in order (powers of attorney and will updates), that she was getting any additional benefits she was entitled to, and we also arranged for her to have a blue badge for parking. I regularly attend GP appointments with her as she is quite forgetful, and we also need to manage her medication for her.
The paperwork for supporting an elderly relative for parking, medical appointments and powers of attorney can be quite daunting and time consuming. Annual renewable flexi-working requests have helped me to reduce my hours to both care for people around me, but also take time for myself which is really important. Home can feel a bit crowded, and it is a nice change to come onto campus, even though it isn鈥檛 really a break as such. My commute has become some decompression time in both directions!
It鈥檚 right for all of us that she remains at home with family for the foreseeable. One of the hardest things to manage is making time through the working day to be available and supportive (untrained grief counselling doesn鈥檛 follow an Outlook calendar schedule) whilst meeting the needs of my role. I鈥檓 not just working from home, I鈥檓 working from what has become her home.
Safe Listening Space
The Parents and Carers Staff Network and Disability Staff Network invite staff and PGRs who are carers to join a Safe Listening Space on 19 June at 1pm.
This is a confidential Teams session for attendees to share their lived experience of being a carer with other carers. This session is facilitated by Libby Barton, EDI Specialist and Disability Staff Network Chair and Emma Woozeer, Widening Participation Access Manager and Parents and Carers Network Steering Group member.
Information and support
Staff and PGRs who are parents or carers are welcome to join the
To learn more about caring responsibilities access our learning module.