Caring for someone is an act of love, yet it often comes with immense mental and physical challenges. The journey can be exhausting and isolating without the right support.
Aberdeen Carers Support Service understands these struggles and is there to help unpaid carers; offering invaluable advice and guidance on securing financial aid, taking care of their own wellbeing, and acquiring the necessary training to sustain their caregiving roles.
Even after caregiving responsibilities have ended, one of their support groups, ‘Moving On’, provides a warm and welcoming space where former carers can connect, share their experiences over a cuppa, and find a community of understanding and support, ensuring they don’t face their journey alone.
Morag Ross, from Aberdeen, was a carer for her husband. They had been married for 58 years and Morag was willing to do anything to make sure her husband had the best care possible.
Morag was referred to Aberdeen Carers Support Service but, sadly, her husband passed away shortly after.
Morag said: “I got a call from a Family Wellbeing Worker to assess my situation, but I explained that I wasn’t caring for my husband anymore. The worker said how sorry they were to hear my news, and I was asked if I wanted to come along to the next meeting of the Moving On group, which provides support for carers whose loved ones are now living in care homes or have passed away.
“The group has given me somewhere to go. I’ve a loving family and I’ve got lots of good friends who still have their husbands. I don’t think they fully understand how things are.”
“I went along, and I’ve been at every meeting since. We meet every second Tuesday of the month. I’ve marked them all in the calendar, so I don’t miss any.
“We get together and talk to each other over a cuppa and cake. What we are really doing is supporting one another. It is so lovely to just talk to other people who have gone through a similar experience. There are people there who had been caring for years.
“I feel I am part of something. We all have experiences that were very similar. That helps you feel like you can share your own story. It just gives me something that I need.”
It’s not all tea and talk. The group had a superb day out recently as part of the Doorstep Breaks scheme, funded by ACVO’s (Aberdeen Council of Voluntary Organisations) Communities Mental Health & Wellbeing Fund.
Morag continued: “We had a great day out touring round the coastal villages of Aberdeenshire with Grampian Escapes and Tours. The weather wasn’t great, but it didn’t matter. We stopped for lunch and had a nice glass of wine. There was a man with us, Jim, who was such great company. He said he hadn’t been out in such a long time after his wife passed away last year.
“The group has given me somewhere to go. I’ve a loving family and I’ve got lots of good friends who still have their husbands. I don’t think they fully understand how things are. For our last group meeting we were taken out to a lovely lunch in Aberdeen, which I thoroughly enjoyed.”
Jim, who Morag mentioned when talking about the trip, added: “It was such a pleasure for me, being in amongst such good company. I hadn’t been anywhere for years due to my caring role, but during the trip I felt a great sense of achievement; like I had taken a big step on the road to normalisation.”
Aberdeen Carers Support Service offers advice and assistance to those providing unpaid care in Aberdeen City. The service runs monthly groups including a male carers’ support group and a group for women in need of mental health support, as well as a weekly kinship carers’ group and a fortnightly parent carers’ group.
There are also several community-based Wee Blether groups and many one-off events for carers throughout the year. Full details of all the groups are available on the Aberdeen Carers Support Service website. https://carers.quarriers.org.uk/services/aberdeen-carers-support-service/
Caring for a loved one doesn’t have to be a journey you take on your own. There is help and support available. Get in touch with the friendly and professional team either by email [email protected], or telephone 01224 914036. For more details, visit https://bit.ly/4bwpeh8
Morag Ross and Nora Legge on the group day out. They did a tour of Aberdeenshire fishing villages, including Pennan where the famous ‘Local Hero’ phone box is
