Caregivers in Helmond gathered at community center De Geseldonk on Tuesday to discuss their daily experiences during a local event organized for the National Day of Informal Care.
The gathering focused on the theme that informal care crosses all cultural boundaries, a concept proposed by two Moroccan women, as ditishelmond.nl reported. Ineke Folgerts of the LEVgroep helped organize the meeting after the women asked if the day could embrace multiple cultures.
“We noticed that the National Day of Informal Care mostly attracted people from the Dutch culture,” Folgerts told ditishelmond.nl. “But care is something we all do. It might look slightly different for everyone, but it comes down to exactly the same thing.”
Folgerts said that informal caregivers are urgently needed, even though individuals rarely choose the role consciously. Many people view themselves primarily as partners or family members rather than formal caregivers.
“Caregivers are not asked, caregivers simply become caregivers,” Folgerts said, according to ditishelmond.nl. She added that the heavy load of supporting a relative often leaves individuals with little to no personal time.
Alderman for Care and Health Boris Kox attended the gathering to address the participants. He said community members should look out for one another.
“I think it is very important that people continue to look out for each other,” Kox told ditishelmond.nl. “And caregivers are truly a great example of that.”
Video presentations during the evening featured various caregivers sharing their personal journeys. The footage highlighted both positive moments, such as making tea for an elderly mother, and the emotional toll of caregiving.
“A year ago, my wife looked at me several times and said: I think you are very sweet, but I do not know who you are,” one caregiver shared in a video shown at the event, as reported by ditishelmond.nl.
“That care and the sorrow that sometimes comes with it are the same in every culture,” Folgerts told ditishelmond.nl.
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