Carers Week 2015, 8-14 June
It is Carers Week 2015, and many of the people I treat are indeed carers. It is a full time, emotionally filled, draining, not to say unpaid job done without hesitation for their family members. Many find some respite and “their” time with massage, specifically relaxing, deep tissue and to a certain extent sports and remedial Massage.
It not only helps with the relaxing aspect of the treatment but also helps with the aches and pains in the body (those who have to physically move their loved ones day in and out). I have a few stressed out mums who find Acupuncture useful for stress relief.
Are you a Carer? Do you take care of you? What do you do to take care of you?
Or are you a home maker, work full time, and run around as a driver for the kids. What do you do to take care of you?
Carers Week is an annual drive to raise awareness. It highlights the challenges that the carers face and recognise the contribution they make to families and communities throughout the UK.
This year according to the http://www.carersweek.org/, the focus is on building Carer Friendly Communities. Communities which support carers to look after their loved ones well, while recognising that they are individuals with needs of their own.
Carers Week is to highlight just how important caring is and those carers need support and assistance too.
I have quite a few regular carers who come to me on a weekly basis, and find the combination of “off loading”; being heard and listened to, as well as having the physical tension relief a big part of their care plan.
One of the ladies is a lovely 69 year old who has been responsible for her husband who has mental health problems. She has 1 ½ hours of massage every week, and when it has been a hard week, she and her body is so grateful for some help! It keeps her going!
It is very sad but at the same time very fulfilling to help mothers of very young children ( cerebral palsy) and autism, where there is constant demand of emotional and physical energy to say the least. They never really do have their “me” time.
In order to be a parent they do need to be cared for, so they can then do their duties better and not get “burnt out”. The stress does travel into the body. Massage does help to de stress and relax.
No doubt there is no long term solution sometimes, but the fact that help is at hand and they can call on you is reassuring. The fact that they can ask for help from someone who can sympathise, care and be an outlet does make a difference.
This is what my pensioner Carer who is 69 years old and takes care of her husband who has mental emotional health problems says
“I do look forward to my massages, they bring great relief! I can at least switch off for that time and make sure I have some time to myself afterwards.”
As the saying goes a problem shared is a problem halved.