The Health and Social Care Partnership is showing support for Carers Week 2023.
The theme this year is 'Recognising and supporting carers in the community'.
Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges unpaid carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities. It also helps people who don't think of themselves as having caring responsibilities to identify as carers and access much needed support.
A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who, due to physical or mental illness, disability or an addiction cannot cope without their support. You do not need to be in receipt of carers allowance to be recognised as an unpaid carer.
Chris Myers, Chief Officer, Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership
“It is of huge importance that unpaid carers get access to support they need including breaks from their caring role, so that they can access to a life outside of caring and maintain their own health and wellbeing.
“The Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership is working towards our vision that all people in the Scottish Borders are able to live their lives to the full. To this end, we have been working with unpaid carers and the people they care for on a number of improved supports, including the provision of individual budgets to support carer breaks, and enhanced residential respite options for people with complex needs to help make this happen."
Councillor Tom Weatherston, Executive Member for Social Work and Community Enhancement
“According to Carers Scotland, there are over 700,000 unpaid carers in Scotland today with up to two thirds of all people taking on the role of carer at some point during their lives, supporting family, friends and neighbours.
“It can also take an average of two years for a person to recognise that they are a carer, which means many miss out on the help that is available to support them with their caring role. This can potentially lead to physical and mental health problems, loss of employment and income and even a breakdown in the care they provide.
“Carers Week is an opportunity for us all to not only acknowledge the vitally important role that unpaid carers make to the lives of their loved ones, but also for us to remind them that help is available.”
Advice, information and support is available
If you think you are an unpaid carer but are not getting the support you need, you can contact the Borders Carers Centre for advice, information and guidance on what support is available to help you maintain your caring role. The Carers Centre is commissioned by the Scottish Borders Health and Social Care Partnership.
Information about support for Young Carers in the Borders is available on our website.
Information about national support for carers is available on the NHS Inform website or by phoning 0800 011 3200 (lines are open Monday to Friday, 9am–5pm).