Shelina Janmohamed is an author and a culture columnist for The National
July 12, 2024
The moment it finally hit me was when I stood by the door of the hospital room and looked at the empty bed: Dad was gone.
Every day, I had visited him in the intensive care unit for a month, and before that for a month in the ward. And I was his primary care giver for four years before that. Not to mention the many years prior of being there to give care, even though I didn’t think I was a carer. Caring for Mum was intertwined in those years, too. So, as I stood at the entrance of the hospital room that day, I realised I had lost my identity as a carer. It is an all-consuming role that requires dedication and sacrifice, and you don’t realise how many are doing it till you’re in that situation, round the clock looking after a family member or a friend.
Carers UK reports that in 2021, there were 6.5 million carers in the UK, and every day, 6,000 people become carers, many of whom are unpaid and unrecognised for their work, making an enormous contribution to society and saving the economy billions of pounds. The organisation adds that an estimated 1.4 million people provide over 50 hours of care a week – more hours than a full-time job – which affects their own lives and well-being.
But what happens after caring? A 2023 report by the charity group Carers UK, titled The experiences of former carers, highlights the profound impact of caregiving. My reaction post-bereavement was that the stress I was living in would be reset, now that I was in a seemingly less intense "post-caring" phase of life.
In the UK every day, 6,000 people become carers, many of whom are unpaid and unrecognised for their work
But it was only in reading reports that I found myself nodding along to challenges I hadn’t even recognised. Many former carers can face long-lasting effects on their mental and physical health, sometimes lasting 10 years or more.
In my own experience, the transition from being a full-time carer to suddenly not being one left me feeling lost without a core component of my identity. It left me without a framework I had established for my life and it seemed I was not alone.
The number of carers in the UK is only going to keep growing because by 2035, the number of people aged 85 and over who will need 24-hour care will double, according to a 2018 LSE report published in the medical journal The Lancet. This means we need urgent action and well-considered solutions to support carers, not just during but also after their caregiving roles.
One potential solution is to improve access to respite care during the caregiving period to reduce the build-up of fatigue and the tipping point to burnout. It’s taken me six months simply to realise how exhausted I still am. Respite care provides temporary relief for carers, allowing them to take a break and look after their own health. Feeling like the care work you are doing is valuable makes a difference to being able to do it well. It also helps a carer in the post-caring rationalisation that he or she goes through of understanding what happened during that period.
A 2023 report by the UK’s Carers Trust is starkly titled Unpaid carers are not unsung heroes. We are forgotten, neglected and burnt out. It points to the importance of raising awareness about the importance of caregiving and advocating for better policies. Ed Davey, the leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, has been vocal about his own experiences as a carer: "Caring has been in the shadows far too long. It’s time to shine a light on it."
And then there’s money. Many struggle financially due to the demands of their role. The Carers UK report showed that 39 per cent of carers are in debt as a result of their caregiving responsibilities. In addition to financial support, mental health services for carers must be prioritised.
Accessible mental health services tailored to the needs of carers can provide crucial support and prevent long-term mental health problems.
Anywhere in the world, carers need a system of support – respite care, financial support, and mental health services – and this can’t stop at the moment of bereavement. It needs to be a more tapered approach.
Looking after our loved ones full time is an act of dedication, but it should not come at the expense of a person's well-being. We need to ensure that we care better for those who are caring.
Newcastle United 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 Tottenham (Alli 61'), Davies (70') Red card Jonjo Shelvey (Newcastle)
UAE Team Emirates:
Dan Martin, Alexander Kristoff, Darwin Atapuma, Marco Marcato, Kristijan Durasek, Oliviero Troia, Roberto Ferrari and Rory Sutherland
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Qualifications: Diploma in engineering from TSI Technical Institute, bachelor’s degree in accounting from Dubai’s Al Ghurair University, master’s degree in human resources from Abu Dhabi University, currently third years PHD in strategy of human resources.
Favourite mountain range: The Himalayas
Favourite experience: Two months trekking in Alaska
SCHEDULE FOR SHOW COURTS
Centre Court - from 4pm (UAE time)
Angelique Kerber (1) v Irina Falconi
Martin Klizan v Novak Djokovic (2)
Alexandr Dolgopolov v Roger Federer (3)
Court One - from 4pm
Milos Raonic (6) v Jan-Lennard Struff
Karolina Pliskova (3) v Evgeniya Rodina
Dominic Thiem (8) v Vasek Pospisil
Court Two - from 2.30pm
Juan Martin Del Potro (29) v Thanasi Kokkinakis
Agnieszka Radwanska (9) v Jelena Jankovic
Jeremy Chardy v Tomas Berdych (11)
Ons Jabeur v Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla
Rating: 3/5
A new relationship with the old country
Treaty of Friendship between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates
The United kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates; Considering that the United Arab Emirates has assumed full responsibility as a sovereign and independent State; Determined that the long-standing and traditional relations of close friendship and cooperation between their peoples shall continue; Desiring to give expression to this intention in the form of a Treaty Friendship; Have agreed as follows:
ARTICLE 1 The relations between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the United Arab Emirates shall be governed by a spirit of close friendship. In recognition of this, the Contracting Parties, conscious of their common interest in the peace and stability of the region, shall: (a) consult together on matters of mutual concern in time of need; (b) settle all their disputes by peaceful means in conformity with the provisions of the Charter of the United Nations.
ARTICLE 2 The Contracting Parties shall encourage education, scientific and cultural cooperation between the two States in accordance with arrangements to be agreed. Such arrangements shall cover among other things: (a) the promotion of mutual understanding of their respective cultures, civilisations and languages, the promotion of contacts among professional bodies, universities and cultural institutions; (c) the encouragement of technical, scientific and cultural exchanges.
ARTICLE 3 The Contracting Parties shall maintain the close relationship already existing between them in the field of trade and commerce. Representatives of the Contracting Parties shall meet from time to time to consider means by which such relations can be further developed and strengthened, including the possibility of concluding treaties or agreements on matters of mutual concern.
ARTICLE 4 This Treaty shall enter into force on today’s date and shall remain in force for a period of ten years. Unless twelve months before the expiry of the said period of ten years either Contracting Party shall have given notice to the other of its intention to terminate the Treaty, this Treaty shall remain in force thereafter until the expiry of twelve months from the date on which notice of such intention is given.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned have signed this Treaty.
DONE in duplicate at Dubai the second day of December 1971AD, corresponding to the fifteenth day of Shawwal 1391H, in the English and Arabic languages, both texts being equally authoritative.
Signed
Geoffrey Arthur Sheikh Zayed
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
No more lice
Defining head lice
Pediculus humanus capitis are tiny wingless insects that feed on blood from the human scalp. The adult head louse is up to 3mm long, has six legs, and is tan to greyish-white in colour. The female lives up to four weeks and, once mature, can lay up to 10 eggs per day. These tiny nits firmly attach to the base of the hair shaft, get incubated by body heat and hatch in eight days or so.
Identifying lice
Lice can be identified by itching or a tickling sensation of something moving within the hair. One can confirm that a person has lice by looking closely through the hair and scalp for nits, nymphs or lice. Head lice are most frequently located behind the ears and near the neckline.
Treating lice at home
Head lice must be treated as soon as they are spotted. Start by checking everyone in the family for them, then follow these steps. Remove and wash all clothing and bedding with hot water. Apply medicine according to the label instructions. If some live lice are still found eight to 12 hours after treatment, but are moving more slowly than before, do not re-treat. Comb dead and remaining live lice out of the hair using a fine-toothed comb.
After the initial treatment, check for, comb and remove nits and lice from hair every two to three days. Soak combs and brushes in hot water for 10 minutes.Vacuum the floor and furniture, particularly where the infested person sat or lay.
Courtesy Dr Vishal Rajmal Mehta, specialist paediatrics, RAK Hospital
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
Dobromir Radichkov, chief data officer at dubizzle and Bayut, offers a few tips for UAE residents looking to earn some cash from pre-loved items.
Sellers should focus on providing high-quality used goods at attractive prices to buyers.
It’s important to use clear and appealing photos, with catchy titles and detailed descriptions to capture the attention of prospective buyers.
Try to advertise a realistic price to attract buyers looking for good deals, especially in the current environment where consumers are significantly more price-sensitive.
Be creative and look around your home for valuable items that you no longer need but might be useful to others.
The Federal Tax Authority will track shisha imports with electronic markers to protect customers and ensure levies have been paid.
Khalid Ali Al Bustani, director of the tax authority, on Sunday said the move is to "prevent tax evasion and support the authority’s tax collection efforts".
The scheme’s first phase, which came into effect on 1st January, 2019, covers all types of imported and domestically produced and distributed cigarettes. As of May 1, importing any type of cigarettes without the digital marks will be prohibited.
He said the latest phase will see imported and locally produced shisha tobacco tracked by the final quarter of this year.
"The FTA also maintains ongoing communication with concerned companies, to help them adapt their systems to meet our requirements and coordinate between all parties involved," he said.
