At Crossroads Care Kent, we know that the one thing carers need most, in terms of support for themselves, is a break. Caring is demanding — some people care for over 100 hours a week, sometimes for many years. However much you love someone, it can be exhausting, and a bit of time off can really help you feel like you again.
A one-off break isn't enough, though. If you have to arrange replacement care for the person you look after, and they take a while to get used to a new person or routine, it often just isn't worth it. By the time you get back from your break, you're exhausted from having organised it, and you'll likely spend more time sorting out what's happened while you were away.
Sometimes it's suggested that a carer could have a block of breaks — say, a few hours a week for a few weeks. Again, you face the challenge of arranging short-term replacement care, and even if you manage it, what happens afterwards? Your need for a break hasn't changed — you're just left with the memory of some welcome time off, with no more to come.
We believe carers' breaks need to be regular. Carers often depend on breaks to be able to carry on. Just a few hours a week can make the difference between being able to keep caring and becoming completely exhausted and overwhelmed. Most carers don't care in one-off, short-term blocks — so why should their breaks be?
We depend on carers to look after members of our community with long-term illnesses or disabilities. Without them, care would need to be provided at much greater cost. So let's support our carers — and give them the regular breaks they need.