Zara's story
Support that makes a difference
Zara* loves going for coffee, exploring new places, and spending quality time with her friends and partner. But recently, her caring responsibilities began making it hard for her to enjoy the things she loves.
Zara supports her mother, whose care needs mean she can’t be left alone for more than 15 to 20 minutes. This made it impossible for Zara to visit her friends, limiting her social life to phone calls. The pressures of her caring role began to feel overwhelming, and Zara’s mental and physical health suffered. She started to consider giving up her part-time job.
Then one of our social care officers stepped in to help. They carried out a Carer’s Assessment, working closely with Zara to put a support plan in place. Zara explained how she’d been feeling and asked for help with her emotional wellbeing. She was also keen to connect with local carer support groups, so she could meet and share her experiences with people in similar situations.
Our social care officer told Zara about the services provided by Signpost for Carers and how to access them. Together, they explored other benefits Zara’s entitled to like the carer’s budget and helped her to put extra care in place for her mother.
This gave Zara the reassurance and breathing space she desperately needed. She can now access other support networks like Carefree and is better at balancing her caring responsibilities with her own needs.
“With this assessment, I gained a clearer understanding of my own wellbeing and the importance of self-care,” Zara says, “ultimately enabling me to provide better care for my mother.”
It’s proof that the right support can make all the difference – for both carers and the people they care for.
*We've changed Zara's name and other identifying information.
Visit our carers pages to discover the support available to you if you look after friends, partners or neighbours in Stockport.