With the closing date for nominations fast approaching on April 20, The Carers Association is sending a final call to people across Westmeath to nominate their chosen family carers for the Carers of the Year Awards 2012.
Sponsored by Emergency Response, the Carers of the Year and Young Carer of the Year Awards 2012 were launched by patrons of The Carers Association, Mary Kennedy and Marty Whelan.
“Family caring can be very difficult with many family carers experiencing isolation, stress and illness due to their round-the-clock caring responsibilities. Many local carers sacrifice their career and lives to provide care in the home and these awards are so important in recognising and celebrating the work they do,” says Catherine Cox, communications manager of The Carers Association.
The Carers Association’s Carers of the Year and Young Carer of the Year (under 18 ) Awards are based on a national nomination process where members of the public, including health care professionals, nominate their chosen family carers from across Ireland. All family carers nominated will receive a commemorative certificate and four regional winners are chosen, from which one will be announced as the overall Carer of the Year 2012. The award recipients, including the Young Carer of the Year 2012, will be recognised at a national presentation ceremony being held in Dublin in May.
Today, there are over 161,000 family carers and over 5,500 young carers providing care in the home to older people, those with illness, and people with disabilities across Ireland.
To nominate your family carer, see www.carersireland.com or call The Carers Association’s National Careline on Freefone 1800 24 07 24.
