Conversations with Carers

With guest Georgia Bowers. Georgia spent the height of the pandemic working in a care home for over 100 older people. Much has been reported on the handling of the pandemic in relation to care homes. In this episode, Georgia provides a vivid account calling into question the value placed on the lives of older people, and the regard for carers on the frontline. She talks about having to suspend emotion and just carry on; but the strain and helplessness of seeing residents lose their liberty and life is something that carers will carry for a long time.Producer: Sophie KingConversations with Carers was created by Rashmi Becker, Founder of Step Change Studios, and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.www.stepchangestudios.comIf you have been affected by any of the issues raised in the Conversations with Carers podcasts, the following links may be of support:Bereavement:Cruse Bereavement Support: https://www.cruse.org.uk/National Bereavement Partnership: https://www.nationalbereavementpartnership.org/Cancer:Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/Carers:Carers Trust: https://carers.org/Carers UK: https://www.carersuk.org/Sibs UK: https://www.sibs.org.uk/Dementia:Alzheimer’s Society: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Dementia UK: https://www.dementiauk.org/Elderly care:Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/Independent Age: https://www.independentage.org/Mental Health:Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/Rethink Mental Illness: https://www.rethink.org/YoungMinds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

With guest Abigail Kessel. Abi became her mother’s carer when she developed Parkinson’s and dementia. In this episode, Abi describes the constant anxiety, fear, and uncertainly that both she and her mother experienced as they navigated their changing relationship. She talks about the mental and financial strains of providing basic care for her mother, and reflects on the lack of dignity in the treatment of people at the end of their life. In the UK 3 in 5 people will be carers at some point in their lives. For Abi, her experience caring for her mother is not something she thinks she will recover from.Producer: Sophie KingConversations with Carers was created by Rashmi Becker, Founder of Step Change Studios, and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.www.stepchangestudios.comIf you have been affected by any of the issues raised in the Conversations with Carers podcasts, the following links may be of support:Bereavement:Cruse Bereavement Support: https://www.cruse.org.uk/National Bereavement Partnership: https://www.nationalbereavementpartnership.org/Cancer:Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/Carers:Carers Trust: https://carers.org/Carers UK: https://www.carersuk.org/Sibs UK: https://www.sibs.org.uk/Dementia:Alzheimer’s Society: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Dementia UK: https://www.dementiauk.org/Elderly care:Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/Independent Age: https://www.independentage.org/Mental Health:Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/Rethink Mental Illness: https://www.rethink.org/YoungMinds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

With guest Max Cookward. Max grew up with two disabled brothers and has been an informal carer since the age of ten. In this episode, Max talks about supporting his younger brother as a child, while also providing emotional support to his mothers. He recognises his future role as his brother’s main carer and reflects on how this impacts his own life choices. Siblings play a huge role in the lives their disabled brothers and sisters, however this can impact their own quality of life. For Max this has meant having to grow up fast – something he is now coming to terms with.Producer: Sophie KingConversations with Carers was created by Rashmi Becker, Founder of Step Change Studios, and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.www.stepchangestudios.comIf you have been affected by any of the issues raised in the Conversations with Carers podcasts, the following links may be of support:Bereavement:Cruse Bereavement Support: https://www.cruse.org.uk/National Bereavement Partnership: https://www.nationalbereavementpartnership.org/Cancer:Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/Carers:Carers Trust: https://carers.org/Carers UK: https://www.carersuk.org/Sibs UK: https://www.sibs.org.uk/Dementia:Alzheimer’s Society: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Dementia UK: https://www.dementiauk.org/Elderly care:Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/Independent Age: https://www.independentage.org/Mental Health:Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/Rethink Mental Illness: https://www.rethink.org/YoungMinds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

With guest Freya Spencer. Freya began working in care homes for disabled adults during the pandemic. In this episode, Freya talks about the physical and emotional weight of care. Working round the clock, supressing grief and guilt, and focussing on the routine and the rhythms of getting through the day is relentless. The human interactions and connections with residents keep many going, but fitting this around the day-to-day demands is a struggle. For many this is simply not sustainable.Producer: Sophie KingConversations with Carers was created by Rashmi Becker, Founder of Step Change Studios, and supported using public funding by Arts Council England.www.stepchangestudios.comIf you have been affected by any of the issues raised in the Conversations with Carers podcasts, the following links may be of support:Bereavement:Cruse Bereavement Support: https://www.cruse.org.uk/National Bereavement Partnership: https://www.nationalbereavementpartnership.org/Cancer:Macmillan Cancer Support: https://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancer Research UK: https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/Carers:Carers Trust: https://carers.org/Carers UK: https://www.carersuk.org/Sibs UK: https://www.sibs.org.uk/Dementia:Alzheimer’s Society: https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/Dementia UK: https://www.dementiauk.org/Elderly care:Age UK: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/Independent Age: https://www.independentage.org/Mental Health:Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/Rethink Mental Illness: https://www.rethink.org/YoungMinds: https://www.youngminds.org.uk/

There are 7 million carers in the UK. Some work on the frontline of social care, others are unpaid carers for family members that need support because of illness, age or disability. Conversations with Carers, is a brand-new podcast series that hears from everyday people caring under extraordinary circumstances.