Carers praise new care support service (From This is The West Country)

Carers praise new care support service

7:00am Monday 25th June 2012 in Devon

CARERS have praised a new service launched this week to support people who care for others across Devon.

The £39million service, known as Devon carers, brings together eight voluntary organisations and charities to provide high quality support, information and advice.

A unique county-wide telephone helpline for carers is one of the features of the new service, along with a team of 25 carer support workers who will work with GP surgeries to identify and support carers, an easy access programme of flexible breaks grants to give carers the break they choose, a ‘take a break’ sitting service and a regular newsletter.

Miriam Thomas, a carer based near Tiverton, described the service as something that will have a “huge positive impact” for carers.

She said: “The telephone service that it’s offering in particular is going to be a great help to a lot of carers. Having access to breaks when we need them will also be a help break but finding someone you trust to leave your loved one in the hands of isn’t always easy.

“It can be very emotionally tiring as well as physically to be a carer, so we sometimes get stressed and sick easier than other people do.

“The carer support workers do a great job across Devon and it’s great to have all the support we can.

“Even just getting people to realise they’re a carer sometimes can be difficult. People don’t always realise, even though they’re caring for a loved one.”

Philip Cornish, who has been caring for 31 years along with his wife Linda, added: “It’s a very good support and communication network. Carers talking to other carers is a very good thing because being a carer can sometimes feel quite isolated.

“I’m impressed with what I’ve seen so far.”

The service was launched at Tiverton’s Best Western Hotel on Wednesday.