Care workers across the UK have been sharing stories from their careers as part of an awareness week designed to shine a light on social care during the Covid-19 pandemic.
#GladtoCare Awareness Week, which ran from 6-12 July, saw over 250 care homes across the country get involved.
By posting stories, photos and videos on their social channels, participants were asked to share milestone moments that have made them feel proud to be caregivers, helping to highlight some of the work that often goes unnoticed by the wider public.
The campaign saw over 25,000 people using the official #GladtoCare hashtag on social media.
Shared content included socially-distanced parties and activities, such as a Hawaiian luau and resident Olympics, as well as digital befriending initiatives encouraging companionship during isolation, and reunions with loved ones post-lockdown.
One care home - Hartford Care’s Woodlands House near Southampton – held a surprise wedding for a manager and senior carer following the forced cancellation of their big day due to the coronavirus. Residents took on the roles of vicar, best man, mother and father of the bride and bridesmaids.
As well as encouraging conversation around care, #GladtoCare Awareness Week organised a 30-minute Zoom fitness session with digital influencer Alice Liveing, which saw nearly 2,000 residents between the ages of 60 and 109 in virtual attendance.
Heidi Thomas, head of marketing at Person Centred Software, which spearheaded the #GladtoCare campaign, said: “Whilst the current climate has gone some way in making us more aware of key workers on the front line delivering care to the vulnerable, the timing of the week has been particularly fitting, with the Prime Minister's recent comments affirming that the efforts of the caring community are still undervalued.”
Thomas added: “We hope that the stories shared paint a more accurate picture of the extraordinary lengths that carers are going to in order to keep residents safe and happy at this difficult time.”
The annual #GladtoCare Awareness Week will return next year from 5-11 July 2021.
