Celebrating our carers
Carer Ann Jones and her family
National Carers Week (13 to 19 October) is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the important role of carers in our community.
Carer Ann Jones has spent the past 30 years caring for a family member with Huntingdon’s Disease.
She said that while each carer and their loved one is different, many of the challenges they face are the same.
“Looking back on my 30-year journey as a carer for a family with Huntington’s Disease, I realise just how important it was for me to take the first step in seeking help,” she said.
“I joined the local Huntington’s Association where I met other carers facing the same problems.
“WA Carers were also able to help me navigate the challenges of caring which require a good deal of determination, flexibility and resilience.”
Ann described the role of caring as being just like a game of snakes and ladders.
“We aim to reach our goals to ensure they receive the best care possible,” she said.
“However, life isn’t quite that easy and while climbing the ladder we often encounter many challenges that cause us to slide back down the proverbial snake.
“It is important to remember, ‘You can do anything but not everything’.”
Ann is also a member of the Sir Charles Gairdner Osborne Park Health Care Group Carer Recognition Working Group.
Find out more: Advocating and Supporting Family Carers in WA (external site).