A CARER has urged people to swallow their pride and seek help as the coronavirus pandemic makes looking after loved ones even more difficult.

Olive Hobson of Newton Hall, Durham, looks after her husband Dereck who was diagnosed with cancer three years ago.

She said the practical help and emotional support she gets from Durham County Carers has been a godsend.

And she urges other people who look after someone informally at home to consider turning to the charity for help.

Mrs Hobson said: “They have been an absolute godsend.

“I’d gone through life never asking for help and have worked all my life without a day off sick or having to claim benefits. But when it’s your husband you just do it not realising you can need professional help.

“At times it all becomes too much and it grinds you down. Then I came across Durham County Carers Support and its carer support coordinator Carole Gibson has been amazing. “Often I don’t want to talk to friends when I’m down or worry my family and I can pick up the phone any time to Carole and she is such a good listener. She has also helped me apply for carers’ allowances, get discounts on my carpets and access Macmillan nurses services. There are so many practicalities they help with but it’s also so nice to know that people care.”

The charity, which has offices in Spennymoor and Darlington, helps around 22,000 people in informal caring roles.

Chief executive Jenni Wood said lockdown had seen a drop in referrals to the charity at a time when it was estimated that an additional 4.5 million people nationally had taken on caring responsibilities since the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

She said: “People don’t see themselves as carers, they are just husbands, wives, children, siblings, looking after their family.

“Carers tend to put themselves last and can end up with no energy left to help the people they are caring for.

“There is so much help available out there but if you don’t know what it is then how can you look for it.”

Durham County Carers Support receives around 250 referrals a month via word of mouth, social and health services, charities and voluntary organisations, providing a one stop shop for their needs.

Mrs Wood said: “There are no criteria to meet, there is no stigma attached, just help in many forms, whether that is practical, financial or moral support.

“When I first started this job most people seeking help were over 65, now it is anyone from 18 to their 90s with around a third in work trying to juggle caring with their jobs – and this percentage is rising.

“We are living longer and having to wait longer for our pensions. People could be still looking after their children and their parents and are living complex difficult lives.

“We are there to help in any way we can and we know we can make a massive difference to people who are really struggling.”

Ruby Peacock, head of policy at Carers UK which marked Carers Rights Day with a range of activities on Thursday, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has impacted every aspect of caring, affecting carers’ access to support and services, their finances, and their physical and mental health.”

For more information on Durham County Carers Support visit dccarers.org or call Durham on 0300-0051213 or Darlington on 0300-0301215.