Caring doesn't stop at Christmas - Sarah's story

Every day, thousands of local folk are selflessly helping others with day to day needs. This army of unsung heroes bring cheer and comfort to vulnerable people in our community – and that caring doesn’t stop at Christmas.

Unpaid carers play a vital role helping people who otherwise would experience greatly diminished quality of life. But caring is demanding, and many carers are unaware they’re entitled to support too.

Local woman Sarah Norquoy cares for her mother, Liz, who is living with Dementia.

Here, she speaks about what led her seek support from Crossroads Care Orkney, and what carers really want for Christmas.

“I was getting to the stage I was burnt out and tearful, and all the while my dad was needing more and more support with Mum. I said to myself, I need to face facts. This is not going to get easier.”

“At around the same time, I needed to go away and visit family down south. I knew from a previous job as a home carer that Crossroads can provide care. I was terrified of leaving Mum’s care to someone else. But I also knew I needed help.

“I made up my mind to make an appointment to go and speak to the team at Crossroads. As soon as I entered the office I burst into tears. The team were so reassuring – they told me I would definitely qualify for ongoing support, and I knew just from that meeting that I would be leaving Mum in good hands while I was south.

“Once they helped me get ongoing support in place, I was able to regain some confidence and perspective too.

“People often think of caring as a physical job. And it is that - but it’s also very emotional, and comes with a high mental load. You’re now not only running your own life, you have another household to run – do they have heating oil, is their insurance up to date? Are their fire alarms working? Do they have enough medication?

“And people will often say, ‘tell me what I can do to help’.

“But some days even thinking what I could delegate is just too much. So the best advice I can give to anyone wanting to help a carer is just take around a meal, or ring when you are at the shops to see if they need anything picked up, or give a night you will come and visit, and go from there.

“Winter can be very long and isolating as it’s just that little bit harder and more uncomfortable to get out and about with someone you are caring for. We may have practical support in place but we need social stimulation too!

“So if you know a carer, reach out and offer them help and company this festive season – I guarantee that, more than anything else, will make their Christmas.”

Unpaid carers are people in the community providing vital help to others with their day-to-day life because of mobility, health, mental wellbeing or substance abuse issues.

Carers come in all shapes and sizes – they can be young people looking after parents, adults looking after elderly relatives, or a friend or neighbour looking out for someone they know.

All unpaid carers in Scotland are eligible for support to help them care, under the Carers (Scotland) Act.

In Orkney, Crossroads Care are the organisation appointed by Orkney Health and Care to support carers.

Crossroads Care Orkney can offer advice, information, emotional support and advocacy, and free respite care for unpaid carers so they can take a break from caring.

Its estimated there could be around 3,000 unpaid carers in Orkney – with only around 400 currently seeking support.

To talk about your caring role and the kind of support you could access, contact Crossroads Care Orkney on 01856 870500 or by email carers@crossroadsorkney.co.uk, or visit them at Kirkwall Travel Centre, West Castle Street, Kirkwall KW151GU.

You can also:

Visit the NHS Inform website https://www.nhsinform.scot/caring

Call the national helpline 0800 011 320.

Contact Orkney Islands Council's Social Work team by calling 01856 873535 or emailing Orkney Health and Care OHACfeedback@orkney.gov.uk (This email is monitored office hours only).

More about the legal rights of unpaid carers:

The Carers Act, passed by the Scottish Government in 2018, enables unpaid carers to seek help and support from Councils and other support organisations. In Orkney, Crossroads Carers Orkney is appointed by Orkney Health and Care to coordinate that support.