Limerick Profile – Renee Geary, Development Officer, Limerick Caring For Carers.
Courtesy of the Limerick Independent
FROM June 8 to 12, Caring for Carers Limerick will run a series of fun events to mark National Carers Week- a welcome respite for local carers according to Development Officer, Renee Geary.
Events such as a poetry reading, hair/beauty demonstration, music and dance will take take place at the organisation’s drop in centre at 1 John Street.
Renee-herself a carer for over 20 years-got involved with Caring for Carers when she did a ‘Caring in the home’ course in 2001.
“From there, Noel Power and myself set up a support group. We started with five people and now we have up to 50 members. There are three other support around the county-in Newcastle West, Cappamore and Hospital. When my caring role finished, I did more work with the organisation and I was later offered a post,” she explained.
“It was a huge learning curve. I’m a qualified nurse but I never worked in the area. Everyone was very supportive and we moved into our centre in 2003. The Caring for Carers centre is open Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 2.30pm. We run around four ‘Caring in the home’ courses a year; eight ‘Safe handling’ courses and a range of others.”
She added that the organisation “offers relief to people doing courses; 23 carers are doing one in Newcastle West at the moment”.
“Caring can be a very isolated and stressful job. You lose friends and lose touch with things going on. No-one signs up for it and often something happens suddenly and you just find yourself as a full-time carer. Even with family support, the role is often left to one or two people. People are often depending on neighbours to call in,” she explained.
“There are also many different types of carers-some caring for a parent and others for a spouse or a child. The people may be disabled or have suffered a brain injury; every case is different and challenging. There are so many forms of grief and carers often find themselves grieving for the life they could have had or they get upset or angry.”
The centre provides counselling and a social outlet as well as support and information.
“Sometimes people just want a chat. All the staff have experience of caring. We understand and can listen confidentially. With the support groups, you can get practical advice as well as get in contact with other carers. We have two nurses-Mary Burke and Margaret Gilmartin-who do home visits. We also have two secretaries-Mary Delap and Patricia McMahon. We have a brilliant team. We also run outings, such as to the recent carers’ conference and in the summer, we run ‘Mystery Tours’ and other events.”
Renee said that cutbacks are starting to bite but Caring for Carers is “very grateful for the HSE funding but there is less for things like relieving carers in the home”.
“Everyone is hoping that supplements like carers’ allowance and the respite grants will not be cut. As it stands they are more a recognition than a wage. The Government want people to keep the elderly at home because it saves the State but without carers, more older people will end up on trollies in A&E and the like. On a positive note, some people who are not working are volunteering.”
The organisation was founded in 2000- set up by founder members such as Mary Hanley, Anna Casey and Sr Damien.
It has strong links with Caring for Carers Ireland in Clare and has a network of dedicated volunteers and benefactors.
“We have over 400 carers on our register but there are a lot out there that we don’t know about. I urge them to get in touch-to get advice of any type or just to talk. Caring is tough but the job satisfaction, for us and for carers themselves, is superb.”
For more information, call 061-469484 or see www.limerickcaringforcarers.wordpress.com.
Name: Renee Geary
Occupation: Development Officer, Limerick Caring for Carers.
Location: 1 John Street.
Favourite thing about Limerick: I love the history of Limerick.
Worst thing about Limerick: There’s nothing I dislike about it.
Written by Rachael Finucane
