‘It’s like having a toddler in the house’
Ms Kratschmar, a mother -of -four from Dublin, is one of Ireland’s 95,000 family carers who receive no state recognition or support for their caring commitments.
Research, commissioned by Care Alliance Ireland and to be published today, shows family carers are twice as likely to have poor health and a poor quality of life, with 25% experiencing stress or nervous tension.
Sammy is the youngest member of the family and he keeps Ms Kratschmar, 44, on the go from early in the morning and sometimes throughout the night too.
But the provision of respite care for Sammy at Stewart’s Hospital in Dublin means Ms Kratschmar can spend more time with the rest of her family and get a good night’s sleep.
Every six weeks, Sammy spends seven nights at the respite unit and the sociable youngster has no trouble making the transition.
“It is like having a toddler in the house all the time. When he is up, you have to give him your full attention,” said Ms Kratschmar, who gave up work as a full-time office administrator to care for her son.
But she knows her situation is a lot better than other carers, whose roles are so demanding that they have no opportunity to speak out about their needs.
While her husband,
Siegi, works full-time, Ms Kratschmar believes she should be entitled to the carer’s allowance because of the additional costs and commitment involved.
She believes medical cards should be provided for children with special needs from the time they are diagnosed.
The Carers Association, in partnership with Caring for Carers Ireland and Care
Alliance Ireland, yesterday held the first of a series of consultations on family caring in Ireland in Dublin.
The meetings are open to all family carers, those they care for and any other interested groups.
The Government is committed to developing a National Carers’ Strategy.
www.carersireland.com.
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