At Headway Essex, we are here to make sure no one has to face living with an Acquired Brain Injury alone. When someone acquires a brain injury, often a wife, husband, partner or friend, finds himself or herself with an additional role of caring for a loved one. We understand the importance of supporting carers in their roles and during national carers’ week from 10th to 16th June, we try to show our appreciation for the amazing work they do.
Carers Week Brunch
On Friday 14th June, Headway Essex held a carers brunch at the ‘Back to the 60s’ cafe in Colchester. We think it is extremely important to listen to our carers and their stories and for them to gain peer support from other carers who know the problems they are experiencing. Just as importantly, it gives carers a chance to relax, in a social setting and to be themselves rather than someone’s carer.
Bernie and Pauline, two of our carers who attended the brunch, told us ‘the brunch was very enjoyable, it’s good to spend time with people in a similar situation to you in a friendly environment’. ‘It’s good to sit and chat in a social environment about other things as well as our carer roles’.
Another carer who attended said how it was ‘good to talk about the positives and negatives in a group of people who are also in a similar position to you and to get their support and opinion’.
Carers Need Care Too
All our groups are supported by a member of the Headway Essex Community Support Team, who can offer a wide range of support and advice to carers at any stage; from the hospital bedside to many years down the line. Our support worker commented on the event ‘It is nice to be able to look after them for a change and to offer an acknowledgement of the hard work and emotional effort that it takes to be a carer’.
The Headway Essex carers’ brunch is one of the many ways we support our carers, along with regular support groups, a helpline and face to face help and advice. If you would like to know more about Headway Essex’s support for carers, or support for adults with acquired brain injury, you can visit our website, email communitysupport@headwayessex.org.uk, or call 01206 845945.
