‘I shouldn’t be penalised for choosing to care’

THERESA HULME earns just slightly more than someone on the dole after giving up her job as a clinical psychiatric nurse manager to look after her intellectually disabled older sister.

“I am not asking to be paid for looking after my sister but I should not be penalised for choosing to care for her,” she said.

Theresa, 40, from Tullaroan, Co Kilkenny, gave up her job as a community services manager with RehabCare in Kilkenny to look after Catherine, 43, following the death of their mother, Philomena, two years ago.

Theresa received carer’s benefit — a payment made to those who leave the workforce to care for others — after leaving her job and is receiving an emergency welfare payment from community welfare while awaiting receipt of the carer’s allowance — a means-tested payment.

“I find it all extremely degrading and demoralising,” said Theresa, a qualified nurse for 22 years who had worked her way up the ladder to have a good quality of life.

“I gave up a fantastic salary to become a pauper so as to put the needs of Catherine first,” she said.

“I have been sensible with my salary over the years but have very little of the money I earned left now. I have not had a break from minding Catherine in the last two years and I do not know how I can carry on.”

Theresa was speaking at the launch of a report that warns that family care in Ireland is under threat as the current model of care is unsustainable.

“I was on a salary of over €50,000 a year. Now I am getting €200 a week and with that I am expected to look after my sister, run a home and a car,” said Theresa.

“Catherine receives a disability allowance of around €140 a week, plus benefits, but it is still not enough. Fortunately, I am a positive person by nature, otherwise I do not know where I would be. It really is soul destroying.”

Chief executive of the Carers Association, Enda Egan, said the report, Listening to Carers, reinforced anecdotal evidence that family care in the home was no longer sustainable and increased payments and supports were urgently needed.

“The clear message is that family carers are deeply dissatisfied with their current situation and ambitious action is urgently required in the upcoming National Carers Strategy,” said Mr Egan.

The association, in partnership with Caring for Carers Ireland and Care Alliance Ireland, held a series of eight nationwide consultation forums where family carers’ concerns were recorded.

The report will be used to inform the development of the National Carers Strategy, expected in the autumn.