Who cares for the carers?
New centre on South Ealing Road provides relaxation and support under one roof
Ealing�s
26,000 carers now have their very own dedicated carers� centre where they
can relax, socialise and receive specialist support and advice tailored
to helping them carry out their very special roles.
The
centre includes a self-service carers� café, counselling service,
holistic therapies service and an information resource centre. Visitors
to the centre can participate in training sessions and receive advice
on concerns such as Direct Payments.
Ealing Council, in partnership with Ealing Primary Care Trust, has set-up
the centre as part of its �Supporting Carers Strategy�. The partnership
will run the centre for six months before handing over responsibility
to a carers� management committee.
The
centre is located at 44-46 South Ealing Rd, W5 4QA.
Initial opening hours will be 10:00 - 15:00h Monday to Thursday except
on public holidays with plans to extend the opening times next year. Carers
can use the centre as often as they wish and have the option to become
members and enjoy unlimited access to the café, free internet access,
discounted therapy and counselling services.
Opening the centre on Carers� Rights Day (Friday 2nd December), the Mayor,
Cllr Michael Elliott, said: �The centre is a huge achievement for Ealing
and a real opportunity for us to celebrate the extraordinary work carers
do.
�For some time carers have wanted a place where they can forget about
the stresses and strains of everyday life, and be supported in a tranquil
environment. You can see carers now have that place dedicated to them
- their sanctuary.�
Nancy Moore who looks after her 83-year-old husband, said: �I think it�s
brilliant, nice and airy, very open and no darkness. Carers of people
with Alzheimer�s disease do need lots of support. People suffering from
Alzheimer�s don�t know they�re ill and it�s the carer who has the real
burden of looking after them. But we�ve been together for nearly sixty
years and I wouldn�t be without him.�
According to the 2001 census nearly 9% of Ealing's population give unpaid
care to a relative or friend. A fifth of these provide more than 50 hours
a week of care.
December 14, 2005