Abbotswood Court, a luxury care home in Romsey, Hampshire, hosted a carers’ coffee morning on November 29, to mark Carers Rights Day 2018 (November 30), with expert speakers.
Some 20 carers attended a special information event organised by Abbotswood Court care home in Romsey, marking Carers Rights Day 2018.
The coffee morning, which was open to carers from the Abbotswood Court family and the wider community, saw staff at the home and expert speakers, from Hampshire County Council, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and Unity Volunteering, sharing information and tips to help carers understand their rights and how to access the vital support they are entitled to.
Sharing information about the ways in which their organisations can support carers were Sue Pidduck, Head of Transformation, Design and Implementation for Adult’s Health and Care at Hampshire County Council, Jenny Little of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers in Hampshire, and Terry Bishop, Chief Executive of Unity Volunteering.
The free event was held at the home on Thursday, November 29, ahead of Carers Rights Day on November 30. This annual day, organised by the charity Carers UK, brings together organisations from across the country to help and advise carers in their local communities.
Gemma Ridout Bowden, General Manager of Abbotswood Court, said:
“This is a cause close to our hearts; as a day care and respite care home, as well as a residential home, we work with many families caring for loved ones at home, so we well understand how isolating and overwhelming an experience it can be.
“We were so pleased to welcome this group of carers to join us here at Abbotswood Court for this special event, and to provide an opportunity not only to share useful information, but also a chance for them to meet fellow carers, chat and take a little time for themselves.”
Sue Pidduck, Head of Transformation, Design and Implementation for Adult’s Health and Care at Hampshire County Council, said:
““One in eight adults in the UK is a carer, meaning that they help to look after someone on an unpaid basis. That’s around 6.5 million people throughout the UK making a huge contribution to their communities and to the lives of those they care for.
“We know that caring responsibilities can take a heavy toll on carers, impacting their relationships, their mental and physical health, and their finances – especially for the 1 in 5 carers whose caring responsibilities lead them to give up working entirely.
“It is vital that every carer is aware of the support that is available within their communities and that they know how to access this support. For everyone in Hampshire the Connect to Support Hampshire website is an excellent starting point. Community events for carers, like the one held [today] at Abbotswood Court, help to ensure that carers are supported with the right information, which they can use themselves and share with others.”
