National Carers Week

The 9th National Carers week, which commenced on 9 June and runs until 14 June, celebrates and recognises the contribution of Ireland’s family carers with events throughout Ireland.

Family carers are usually immediate relatives, who provide very high levels of care at home, for children and adults with severe disabilities, frail older people and people who are terminally ill.

The 2011 Census estimates there is in the region of 187,000 family carers in Ireland, identifying in excess of 4,000 carers under the age of 15. The census also provided an estimate of family carers in each county, with 22,428 family carers in Cork; 60 per cent being women and 40 per cent men, with the average age of family carers at 46.

The National Carers week is co-ordinated by Care Alliance Ireland in partnership with eight other leading Irish organisations who support family carers: The Alzheimer Society, The Carers Association, The Irish Cancer Society, Caring for Carers Ireland, The Disability Federation of Ireland, MS Ireland, Acquired Brain Injury Ireland, and The Irish Hospice Foundation.

For more information visit Carers Week facebook page https://www.facebook.com/nationalcarersweek