Home » Helping carers get connected – Carers Week 2019
Helping carers get connected – Carers Week 2019
We’re excited to support Carers Week 2019, coming together with Carers UK and the nation, to help carers get connected in their communities.
The number of carers in the UK is growing, with over 8.8 million people estimated to be caring for loved ones in 2019. Caring could involve looking after a family member or friend who has a disability, mental or physical illness or looking after a loved one who needs a little extra help as they grow older.
Whilst caring can be a hugely rewarding experience, it can also be challenging; mentally and physically draining. Carers often find it difficult to take care of their own wellbeing whilst caring and are more likely to suffer from loneliness. Carers are also often unpaid and there are lots of extra costs that come with caring meaning that some are struggling financially. Sadly, recent research from Carers UK also reveals that some feel their lives are significantly less worthwhile compared with the rest of the population. This is why it’s vital that we get behind those caring for their loved ones and help them access the support that they need.
Carers Week (running 10th to 16th of June) is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring and carers needs. The focus for Carers Week 2019 is “getting carers connected”; helping them to get the information, technology and support they need to care for their loved ones without putting off their own needs or losing important relationships with others.
Here at Hive, we’re committed to supporting carers. We’re passionate about connecting people through technology and empowering people to use tech to better live their lives or those of their loved ones.
We’ve invested time and expertise, working closely with Carers UK, to bring the power of our smart technology to the world of caring and inspire a new range of connected care services. The first of these is Hive Link which provides peace of mind for families looking after loved ones and helps people live independently for longer. Using a non-intrusive smart technology system, our smart plugs and sensors use pattern detection to get to know your loved one’s routine and sends customisable updates via an app to you, allowing you to check your loved one is getting on with their day as usual. You can also see what’s happening in real-time using the activity log on your Hive app, so you can get the reassurance you need if you can’t be there. It means when you do call or drop in, it’s less about checking up, and more about having a chat
If you’re interested in Carers Week and how you can get involved, we’d recommend that you head to the Carers Week website. Why not run an event in your community or workplace for carers in your area or workforce? It doesn’t matter how big or small your activity is, you can make a difference by raising awareness of caring. At Hive HQ, we’ll be running our own lunch and learn with employees, and raising money for Carers UK with a company-wide bake sale.
Find out more about how Hive Link could give you and a loved one peace of mind, including a handy guide on how to start these conversations about care with your loved one.