Carers Together E1 – Jane McCarry

We talk to Donna from PlayPeace and two carers, Sophie and Marie about our fantastic Carer Breather services. If you want to find out more about what's on offer at Playpeace, visit https://www.playpeace.org.uk/ *Trigger warning: contains stories that may trigger parent carers*

Carolanne speaks to Vicki Allan of Lanarkshire Links, Carol Ramsay of the Health and Wellness Hub Motherwell and 3 carers, Alan, Karen and Yvonne about how caring affects your overall health and wellbeing.

We sat down with Lesley, Fiona and Monica to discuss their recent attendance at our Recognition to Rights training and how this has helped them in to take back control of their caring roles. We also talk about what they'd love to see if we we waved a magic wand to make caring easier.

Craig Tobin, Senior Officer at North Lanarkshire Health and Social Care Partnership talks to CI & E worker Corinne Thomson about the upcoming local and national carers strategies.

Susan, a full-time carer for her husband, talks to NLCT about her experience of trying to access a short break. She shares difficulties accessing respite for her husband and goes on to share her thoughts on how systems could much better cater to carers’ needs when accessing breaks from their caring roles. From a holistic and more centralised service to ensuring choice and control are at the heart of what is offered to carers, this episode delves into the realities facing carers today. Launched as part of NLCT’s consultation on short breaks, this pod provides food for thought for policy makers and carers wishing to influence policy alike.

Motherwell based GP, Dr Porte, from Modyrvale Medical Centre speaks to our team member Angela in our second episode. They discuss the current issues facing carers including the cost of living crisis, its impacts on mental health and the immediate need for caring to be being ‘visible, valued and supported’. This frontline GP insight into supporting carers in a practice setting and working with local, community organisations like NLCT, also touches on the importance of time to talk with carers about their caring role, and why recognising the emotional impacts of that role and validating carers’ experiences is key to providing support.

Still Game’s Jane McCarry teams up with Alan and Tracy at North Lanarkshire Carers Together to raise awareness of life as an unpaid carer.  In this inaugural episode, Still Game’s Isa (actor Jane McCarry) shares her own experience as an unpaid carer. During a heartfelt discussion, Jane describes the difficulties faced by people caring for loved ones, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.