Family carers perform a critical role in providing support to loved ones like children or adults with additional needs, physical or intellectual disabilities, frail older people or those with palliative care needs.
They are crucial to Ireland's healthcare and social care system for the work they put in.
While being a family carer is rewarding, it is often difficult and can easily go unnoticed by society. Over 1 in 8 people provide care to family members, and in the last recorded census in 2022, the number of people doing so increased by 50% between 2016 and 2022.
Family Carers Ireland is the national charity supporting over 500,000 family carers across the country who care for loved ones.
Its mission is to highlight the contributions they make to Irish society and improve their lives by providing support, such as free emergency care planning, counselling, specialised training and education programmes, wellbeing support, crisis management, and emergency respite provision.
Despite the crucial role they play, family carers tend to face significant challenges in doing so.
Recent research commissioned by Lidl Ireland found that 70% of carers feel emotionally overwhelmed or burnt out. Yet, 60% still say they are content with the work they do, a testament to family carers’ resilience, but also an indicator of just how much they internalise responsibility and push through without adequate support.
This rings true in the research as almost two-thirds (64%) of family carers say they don’t see themselves as carers, believing it is simply their responsibility to care for loved ones.
While there is pride in being a family carer, the stress and amount of time required to care without support has a negative impact on their wellbeing.
The mixed emotions that caring brings is not only felt by current carers, but also by those who have yet to step into a family carer role.
Recently, Family Carers Ireland received a significant boost from Lidl, Ireland’s leading discount retailer, which last year announced a three-year partnership. The retailer has also pledged to raise €1 million to support the charity’s vital work.
To mark National Carers' Week and in support of Heart of Gold Day, which took place on 12th June, Lidl Ireland and Family Carers Ireland launched its 'We Care Back’ campaign, recognising family carers across the country and the significant care they provide.
"Caring is an act of love that often comes with a cost; while caring can be a privilege for many, it often brings with it a paradox of emotions. Our ambition is to ensure that no carer feels guilt for needing support" said Maeve McCleane, Chief People Officer at Lidl Ireland.
"Our research has shown just how daunted current and future carers are by the responsibility of caring for a loved one can bring. We want family carers to know that we see them not just for the work they do, but the responsibility they carry."
A carer's story
Anne Hennessy was a carer for her mother, Noreen, who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2021.
She discovered the cancer after going to the hospital with bad back pain, where they found it. She went into chemotherapy, meaning weekly visits to the oncology day ward, blood tests, radiotherapy, and medication became a regular part of her life.
Hennessy’s only family beyond her mother was her younger brother; her father passed away in 2018, meaning she was the primary carer.
"During that time, she was really fatigued and wasn't able to manage any kind of regular task," she said. "So, I would look after her, making sure she was getting into the hospital, helping her with medications and anything she needed at home".
Thankfully, her mother was approved for stem cell treatment and has shown significant improvement since the procedure. Nowadays, she can live her life normally, and she even completed the Women’s Mini Marathon in June.
Reflecting on the experience, Hennessy said she would never have considered herself a carer and suspects many others in a similar situation wouldn’t realise it either.
"I got a lot of offers of support and help for myself as well as my mam, which was through family, but some people don’t have that support network, which is why this is such a good initiative.
"Being a carer can be an isolating experience if you were to go through that alone because it’s a full-time role, and everyone needs support."
"Family Carers Ireland have support in place like peer group support because sometimes you just need to talk to people and realise you have that shared experience," she said.
"And let people know that you need support; it doesn't have to be a huge thing; it can be something like helping with the shopping. You'll find that lots of people have experienced similar things and are more than happy to give a helping hand where they can."
For more information on Family Carers Ireland services and support, visit familycarers.ie, or phone the Freephone Careline on 1800 24 07 24. For more information on Lidl Ireland’s charity partnership, visit lidl.ie/familycarers
