Tag Archives: Family Carers’ Ireland

FAMILY Carers Ireland’s new Clare Support Centre on the Gort Road in Ennis has been officially opened offering a boost to carers in the county. The centre, located within Block B of the Clare Technology Park, will offer services to fam­ily carers across Clare including information and advocacy regarding their rights and entitlements; training and workshops; support in accessing respite; group meetings and social events to help combat isolation; advice on care planning and crisis support. The centre was officially launched on Monday by Clare Fianna Fáil TD Cathal Crowe. Through its national network of carer support centres and National Freephone Careline 1800 24 07 24, Family Carers Ireland supports the 500,000+ people in Ireland who provide care for loved ones such as children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people, those with palliative care needs or those living with chronic illnesses, mental ill-health, or addiction. David O’Connor, Family Carers Ireland Carer Supports Manager in Clare …

NEW University of Limerick research has revealed that young carers tend to have higher levels of depressive symptoms than those young people who do not provide care to others. The study of young carers aged 14-18 years from across Europe and Ireland reported higher levels of depressive symptoms among this group when compared to youths who did not report a caring role. However, the research also shows that when these young carers reported higher levels of social participation, they were more satisfied with their lives and as such were less depressed. Young carer is the term given to young people, typically under the age of 18, who provide substantial unpaid care to a family member due to illness, disability, mental health, substance misuse or problems related to old age. The International Journal of Adolescence and Youth has published the major study using evidence from 21 EU countries – including Ireland. It was carried out by researchers at the Study of …

AN Ennis mother who cares for her daughter born with a rare syndrome has been named Netwatch Clare and Munster Family Carer of the Year. Family Carers Ireland, the national charity supporting Ireland’s family carers, presented this year’s award to Clare Sydney this week. Clare cares for her 12-year-old daughter Isabella who was born with Lumbosacral Agenesis which necessitates her using a wheelchair as her legs were amputated at the age of seven. She was nominated by friends from the local carers group who say that she has to help Isabella with all facets of daily living and be one step ahead in planning for her future development and education, as well as sourcing appropriate services. Clare, who is married to Dee and also mother to Isabella’s twin brother Anthony James, developed breast cancer and has been undergoing treatment for the past two years. She says that she and Isabella are each other’s heroes. Clare is one of four regional …

CARERS impacted by Covid-19 restrictions are struggling with a lack of respite and home support visits, but keeping their spirits up through check-in phone calls, virtual quizzes and even Zoom bingo. While home care continues to be provided, many carers have chosen to cocoon alongside their loved ones, and paused their services voluntarily. The restrictions have also placed a big burden on charities providing support to family carers, as they have meant key fund-raising activities have been curtailed. “We are still 100% open and taking new cases, but our home visits are limited,” explained Margaret Naughton, from Ennis, who works with Jack and Jill, a home nursing care service for children. “At this stage, the only visits we make would be for end-of-life and palliative care.” The Specialist Children’s Liaison Nurse works with 30 families across Clare, Limerick and North Tipperary, and said her daily contact are, for the most part, made by phone. “They’re not always easy calls, and …

CARERS who look after a family member with incontinence wear should not be penalised by the introduction of new domestic waste charges, according to local family carers’ advocate. New rules for the collection of domestic waste are due to come into effect on July 1, including a pay-by-weight charging system. Susan Hogan, area manager of Family Carers’ Ireland (FCI), has called on the Department of the Environment to introduce a waiver system for those who are disposing of incontinence wear on a daily basis, to avoid what could be hefty waste bills for some carers. A spokesman for the Department of Environment confirmed to The Clare Champion that the department has met with groups who represent persons with special needs to discuss and explore the impact of pay-by-weight charging on households. The department has also been in consultation with the HSE and the waste management industry about the issue, to try to find a workable and fair solution to this …