Ireland Cares – Celebrate Offaly’s Unpaid Carers
The Irish Red Cross is calling for Offaly to celebrate its unpaid Carers by nominating them for the 2016 Irish Red Cross Carer of the Year Award. The award is open to any member of the public currently providing voluntary care.
Previous winners include men and women from around the country who provide care for loved ones that are ill, vulnerable or living with a restrictive disability. Last year’s winner, Bernie O’Reilly from Cavan, has cared for her son Damien who has cerebral palsy for more than 30 years. Whilst in 2014, Eleanor Ryder from Mayo was presented with the award having cared for her husband, without a break, for 19 years.
Liam O’Dwyer, Irish Red Cross Secretary General, praised Ireland’s Carers, “Unpaid Carers offer a standard of living to sick and vulnerable members of the community that would be impossible without their selfless commitment. It is essential that both Carers and care recipients are recognised and supported members of our communities and of society as a whole.”
As part of its Health and Social Care programme, the Irish Red Cross offers a range of resources and services for Carer’s in Ireland. Services include a Carers Handbook, ‘Helping You to Care’ course, Therapeutic Hand Care services and free first aid app.
Nomination forms for the Irish Red Cross 2016 Carer of the Year award are available from www.redcross.ie/carer2016 and should be returned by Wednesday 31st August. The winner will be announced in November and the 2016 national winner will receive a cash prize and luxury hotel break.
