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No respite for carers,
warns local charity
AS
nation's thoughts turn to summer holidays, disabled people's charity Revitalise
appeals on behalf of unpaid carers during Carers Week. As the warm weather causes many people to start thinking about
taking some time off, this Carers Week the local disabled people's charity
Revitalise is appealing on behalf of the nation's unpaid carers and has revealed
that for them, the luxury of any kind of break may be out of reach. Revitalise; which runs the Sandpipers centre in Southport,
providing respite holidays for disabled people and carers from the North West
region and beyond; is urging people to support its appeal, which aims to
provide funding for disabled people and carers in hardship to take much needed
breaks with the charity. In support of its appeal, Revitalise is citing recent research
which demonstrates the enormous physical and emotional stresses that the UK's
estimated 6.8 million unpaid carers have to contend with. Revitalise's study revealed that 69% of carers were always
tired and 63% were mentally exhausted. 61% also said they had trouble
sleeping and 35% said they were in chronic or persistent pain. 37% carers also
said they felt lonely, evidence, says Revitalise, of the social isolation that
many carers feel. To make matters worse and despite the known therapeutic value
of respite, the majority of carers found themselves unable to take any time off
from caring, for a variety of different reasons, a common factor being
affordability. In order to provide a respite lifeline for disabled people
and carers living in hardship, Revitalise has launched an appeal to raise funds
for its Revitalise Support Fund, which enables people in need to take breaks
with the charity. Revitalise is urging supporters to donate to the appeal, which
can be found on the charity's
website.
Revitalise CEO Chris Simmonds commented:-
"These days
so many of us take so much for granted, including the ability to fly off on
holiday, almost at the drop of a hat. But for disabled people and the loved ones
who care for them, this basic freedom becomes a financial and logistical
nightmare which is all too often out of reach. We know that a disproportionate number of disabled
people and carers are living in financial hardship, but we also know from our
own research just how vital respite breaks are in sustaining caring
relationships. We found that 96% of our guests and their carers
thought proper breaks away were essential to sustaining good caring
relationships, yet 9 out of 10 carers were unable to gain access to them. We are
determined to do something about this situation. Revitalise has been providing respite for disabled
people and carers for over 50 years, so we know there really is no substitute
for time off. That's why I'm urging everyone to spare what you can for our
appeal; and help us make a real difference to the lives of disabled people and
the loved ones who care for them."
Revitalise is a national charity providing respite holidays
for disabled people and carers. Revitalise provides short breaks, with 24 hour
nurse led care, on call and personal support, at Sandpipers and 2 other
accessible centres in Chigwell and Southampton. Each centre offers a wide range
of accessible activities and excursions in a holiday environment.
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