On Thursday community health and home care provider Silver Chain spoiled local unpaid carers for Carers Week, with a lunch to celebrate their contribution to the community.
About thirty Peel carers attended a three-course lunch, a performance from a capella group Janie’s Boys, and were given hand massages and manicures.
Silver Chain’s community care manager Lesley Balkwill said: “Because it’s WA carers week, we wanted to give back something to some of these carers that we assist in our community.
“All of the people here are full-time carers for their partner or loved ones.
“I think they give so much of their own time… I was talking to a lady this morning and she commented, she has to be two people… two minds, four pairs of hands, and how true is that?”
According to Carers Australia, carers make an enormous contribution to communities as well as the national economy.
Should all carers decide to stop performing their caring role, it would cost the country $60.3 billion per year to replace those supports – that’s over $1 billion per week.
Ms Balkwill said many of the organisation’s clients receive care and support from un-paid carers, in addition to the care services they receive through Silver Chain.
“We provide support for carers in the Peel region through community respite in the home and our social centre, which gives carers with an opportunity for daytime respite, knowing their loved one is socialising in a home-like environment. “
