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Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role
Physical activity for health and wellbeing in the caring role

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3.1 Introducing our case studies

In Activity 2 you will meet three carers – all with differing roles. You will revisit these case studies throughout the remaining sections of Session 1 to help you to understand and apply the content.

Activity 2

Timing: Allow approximately 30 minutes.

Please be aware that in this activity – in Video 2 – there is reference made to suicide. You might like to check in with yourself about whether you feel comfortable viewing this material at the moment, or whether you would prefer to come back to this section another time. It is still possible to work through the questions of the activity by watching only Video 1.

Watch the two videos below where you meet Jaiden, a young carer, and two adult carers, who care for their spouse and their child respectively.

As you watch the clips, consider the demographics of each carer, their caring role and the potential impact that this role might have on them.

Video 1 A day in the life of Jaiden, a young carer
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Video 2 Carers’ stories
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Discussion

In the first video you meet Jaiden, a 13 year old, who provides care for his mum. His role includes household chores, getting the groceries, and feeding the cat. You hear that Jaiden provides care for his mum day and night and finds it overwhelming to balance this with school. He is able to take breaks from his caring role through the support of a charity, Honeypot, which you can read more about in the Further Reading section at the end of the course.

In the second video you meet two carers, the first who cares for her husband, the second who cares for her daughter. Both roles differ in terms of the care required but both women have had to change their lives in order to provide the care required. The carers talk of the significant challenges they have faced but both have successfully accessed support from Carers Trust (please see the Further Reading section at the end of the course for more detail on this organisation).

You will refer back to these case studies as you move through the two sessions.

You will now examine the demands of the caring role and the potential impact on health and wellbeing.