Family Carers Ireland and CarePlus Pharmacy are asking people across Waterford, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary to nominate family carers and young carers for this year’s CarePlus Pharmacy Carer of the Year Awards.
Nominations can be completed at www.familycarers.ie or by simply filling out the nomination forms in CarePlus Pharmacies across the region.
Closing date for nominations has been extended to Friday, September 29th.
Now in its 11th year, these awards are hosted to recognise the dedication and loving care provided by Ireland’s family carers and young carers.
Broadcasters Mary Kennedy and Marty Whelan will present the Carers of the Year Awards at a special ceremony in Dublin’s Westin Hotel, Wednesday, November 22nd.
Latest figures from the Central Statistics Office suggest that 10 per cent of the population provide care, which would be approximately 360,000 people. With home helps hours cut, limited respite services and a lack of supports for family carers, this role can often be a difficult one.
“Many carers don’t identify themselves as carers until they are in crisis and seeking help. As part of our ‘Share the Care’ campaign this year, we are hoping carers will self-identify. A family carer is a person who provides care to a loved one, family member, friend or neighbour. This could range from checking in on them once a week, to sitting with them, to preparing meals, to full-time round-the-clock care” says Catherine Cox, Family Carers Ireland.
“Through these awards we want to recognise and celebrate the commitments people make every day across Ireland in making sure loved ones are looked after and cared for. We also make a special recognition to our young carers who are an inspiration."
