What does the festive season look like to carers?
This time of year looks different for all of us.
For some, it’s a frosty morning walk, for others it’s cosy evenings by the fire. Exchanging gifts or simply sharing a quiet moment. Big gatherings, small traditions or none at all.
However we mark this time of year, our winter rituals are as varied as we are. But have you ever thought about what the festive season looks like for an unpaid carer?
For young carers like Aditya (17) who cares for his younger brother, this time of year can bring extra challenges.
My caring role becomes more demanding this time of year, as I’m now looking after my brother the whole day, as opposed to just before and after school.
This does often result in missed social opportunities and perhaps less time to relax during the holidays.
Other young carers like Flo (15) share similar experiences of missing out on ‘the usual’ Christmas activities due to caring responsibilities that can be exacerbated during the winter.
My mum has seasonal depression, and finds it very hard to function normally in the darker months. My learning-disabled sister is on a new diet for her drug resistant epilepsy, so we're going to struggle to keep her away from the food she can't have. And my dad, who is a veteran, is still quite emotional and stressed from Remembrance Sunday as he lost friends in Iraq and Afghanistan.
I’m sure as ever we'll pull through, but it's harder to in the colder months where heating gets more expensive.
Of course, caring responsibilities don’t stop during the holidays. Steve, who cares for his parents, talks about a brief moment of time to himself that sometimes comes on Christmas day:
I’ve never had respite. I get four hours of freedom on Christmas Day, if my brother has my parents at his house, and that’s it. That would be the sum total of my Christmas.
While carers can have additional struggles during the festive period, this time of year can also provide unique opportunities for togetherness and community. Aditya talks of the positives that can come from spending extra time with his family:
Whilst the festive break doesn't fall into the more typical experience of get-togethers and big dinners, I like to use it to spend more time with my family and help my brother through his developing years.
And an added bonus for Steve:
I get to watch my all-time favourite film, The Grinch.
Support carers this festive season
This winter is especially challenging for many unpaid carers. If you’d like to make a difference, your donation through the Big Give will be doubled at no extra cost — offering twice the support when it’s needed most.
