National Carer's Week 2024 - Making Caring Visible

Ireland’s family carers are this week being encouraged to participate in events marking National Carers Week 2024, which is taking place from 10 to 16 June. During the week there will be scores of in person events, together with many online events. Over 160 events are lined up; including coffee mornings, poetry readings, art classes, quizzes, information sessions, church events, music, sound baths, retreats, walks, yoga, boat trips, dance, wellbeing events, and care package giveaways for hundreds of family carers.

The launch on Monday 10 June was marked with a competition for all family carers, where several hundred will be provided with complimentary packages of branded merchandise and chocolates.

This comes as the latest Census of Population figures highlight the surging numbers of family carers. An increase of 103,000 carers was reported since 2016. 299,128 individuals identified as being a carer, with over 86,000 providing more than 43 hours of care each week.

Liam O’Sullivan, CEO of Care Alliance says carer visibility is vital if we as a community are to recognise and appreciate the care that family carers provide. He goes onto say “We know from the latest Census figures that more and more people are caring for loved ones across the country, often invisible to the rest of our community”.

“This National Carers Week we are encouraging everyone across the country to help Making Caring Visible and to show their appreciation for the work of family carers”

Ireland’s Family Carers provide care and support to a person with a disability, chronic condition, mental health concern and/or long-term illness, in the person’s own home. National Carers Week, now in its eighteenth year, is coordinated by Care Alliance Ireland in partnership with ten other leading Irish charities who support Family Carers: The Alzheimer Society of Ireland, the Central Remedial Clinic (CRC), the Irish Cancer Society, the Jack and Jill Children's Foundation, the Disability Federation of Ireland, MS Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, the Irish Hospice Foundation, Rare Ireland and Spina Bifida Hydrocephalus Ireland. New to the partnership this year is Muscular Dystrophy Ireland.

Details of the events taking place throughout National Carers Week are available at https://www.carersweek.ie/ Sustained media campaigns will be run throughout the week using the tags #MakingCaringVisible and #CarersWeek2024.

ENDS