President Higgins honours 20 long-serving carers

Twenty long-serving carers, who between them have provided almost 800 years of care for their loved ones, were honoured by President Michael D Higgins at a ceremony in Dublin yesterday.

A number of the family carers who attended the ceremony, hosted by the Carers Association, are in their 80s and all those who received formal recognition have provided between 30 and 54 years of care.

The oldest carer in the group was 91-year-old Nancy Rigby-Jones from Stillorgan, Dublin. She has been caring for her son, Phillip, 53, who has special needs, for 50 years.

Phillip received the award on behalf of his mother who did not feel up to attending the event. “I look after her and she looks after me. I try and do as much as I can for her,” he said.

“She had a couple of falls a while ago and has not been right since. Her balance is not very good.”

Phillip said they have home help but he feels there should be someone, like a nurse, who could stay with them. “She is a good-natured, kind woman who has looked after me. I want to look after her but I do need to have some of the pressure taken off me. It is all on my shoulder.”

Phillip has two older sisters and a brother who help out but he worries that his mum might fall and injure herself when it is just the two of them in the house. “Sometimes she misses her medication and I have to keep checking it for her,” he said.

There is concern that the number of ageing parent carers is on the rise.

There are 252 carers in Ireland over the age of 70, 809 aged between 60 and 69, and more than 1,700 carers aged between 50 and 60.

Catherine Cox of the Carers Association said the those honoured by Mr Higgins yesterday were nominated by centre managers throughout the country.

“We just wanted them to be recognised and say thank you, not only for what they are doing for their loved ones but for society as well,” said Ms Cox.

“While caring is most often done from love and can be very rewarding, it can be stressful, tiring, and many sacrifices are made.”

Mr Higgins described carers as “unsung heroes” who made enormous private sacrifices, giving up time, personal freedom, opportunities, and even friendships to look after a loved one.

“Unlike others, family carers’ work is done quietly and in the background, and they neither seek nor receive any fanfare,” he said.