In Carers Week, Revitalise highlight vital role of hero carers during pandemic
Today marks the start of Carers Week 2020, a week dedicated to raising awareness of the extraordinary efforts and many challenges faced by carers every day around the United Kingdom, made only harder by the current Coronavirus pandemic.
Around 6.5 million people in the UK are carers, and many are solely responsible for the wellbeing of a disabled person who may rely on them completely, sometimes 24/7, and during the crisis many of these carers have had no access to a respite break for nearly three months.
I work for Revitalise, an amazing national charity that usually creates holidays for disabled people and carers at three accessible respite centres in Chigwell in Essex, Southampton and Southport. However, during the current COVID-19 crisis, our team is offering their facilities at Revitalise Sandpipers and Netley Waterside House as a place to stay safe either short or long term, for disabled people no longer able to get the care they need at home.
Revitalise is a place where carers and their loved ones can come and stay safe at a time when they need us most. Our guests often tell us just how important their break has been for their well-being. Sid got in touch with Revitalise, as like many people who care for their loved ones, he was worried what might happen to his daughters if he got ill.
Sid is father to two daughters, Elizabeth and Christine. Elizabeth was born with Microcephalia, and Sid and his wife Sheila were told she wasn’t going to live. The condition meant her skull was too small, so the brain wasn’t able to develop. Amazingly, Elizabeth came through. The family were told the chances were very slim that any further children would be born with a disability, but their second daughter Christine was also born with Microcephalia. Sadly, Sheila died last year and Liz and Christine were completely reliant on Sid.
Christine and Liz have been able to come to Revitalise Sandpipers in Merseyside, and are now safely being looked after by the charity’s dedicated team of healthcare staff.
The centre is fully accessible, with equipment including hoists, profiling beds and airflow mattresses. The teams are comprised of Registered Nurses and Care Assistants.
Anybody who is worried about whether their care support at home can continue, should contact Revitalise, who are able to offer long or short stays with full care support in place. Visit www.revitalise.org.uk
Devon Prosser