Parent and family carers well-being
The Oxford English dictionary defines well-being as the state of being comfortable, healthy, or happy.
We believe that the emotional well-being of carers is paramount.
This is why one of the key strands of our work is to campaign for better services and support for parents and carers under the banner of ‘resilient carers’. You can read more about our campaigning work here.
Caring for a person who has additional needs can bring with it extra challenges and it can sometimes be stressful. When we care for another person, it is vital that we keep ourselves resourced and recognise our own needs. If we don’t look after ourselves, it can make it harder to support someone else’s well-being.
We tend not to think about our well-being until we reach the point where we don’t feel good.
With this in mind, we have produced a free parent/carer booklet with information on how we can proactively resource ourselves and how being kind to ourselves is an important part of our well-being. This booklet compliments our Well-being Wednesday sessions which happen fortnightly.
Support for carers from the DSA
DSA closed Facebook groups
Parents and families tell us they find support from other families, who may share similar experiences, to be of great value. As a result of this feedback, the DSA has set up a number of closed Facebook groups covering all age ranges and a number of specific subject areas (including complex needs/autism and dementia). The groups may be accessed via the DSA’s Facebook page.
Social care
Unpaid carers of children, young people and adults who have Down’s syndrome are entitled to ask their local authority for a carer’s assessment of their needs. Our website provides detailed information about carer’s assessments.
Supporting Emotional Well-Being resources
We have produced a suite of free emotional well-being resources to help you to support the emotional well-being of the person who has Down’s syndrome for whom you care. These include a resource for supporters, easy read resources and a relaxation audio and video. You can find links to all the resources here.
Online training
We offer training to support individuals at every stage of their lives, from our ‘Tell It Right’ training, to online training, workshops and parent carer meetings. Subjects covered include education and development, speech, language and communication, adolescence and puberty, complex needs and autism, employment, support for adults and ageing and dementia. For further information about our wide-ranging training programme and to register for individual sessions go here.
Parent support groups
There are local parent support groups that are affiliated to the DSA, throughout England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Please check our website for information about support groups.
Helpline
Our helpline is a unique service: we are the only helpline that anyone can contact on any topic related to Down’s syndrome. Our knowledgeable Information Team will answer questions on any topic that arises throughout the whole lifespan of a person who has Down’s syndrome.
0333 1212 300 | info@downs-syndrome.org.uk
Finding the time to recharge the batteries can be difficult and so these free weekly sessions will offer an opportunity to unwind and relax in a friendly and non-judgmental group with people who understand.
A service for parents, parents to be or family carers of people who have Down’s syndrome.
Support for Carers from other organisations
Local Carers Organisations
Local carers organisations (not specific to those who are caring for a person who has Down’s syndrome) exist throughout the country. The organisation CarersUK has a ‘Support where you live’ search facility at their website.
