30 year old David Gibbs from Taverham looks after his wife Lisa who has M.E. which came on suddenly from a bout of flu. Lisa, who’s 29, went from being fit and active to being bed-bound overnight. David was thrown into the deep end as an unpaid carer but according to Lisa his response has been amazing:

“He makes meals, helps me with personal care and dressing, keeps our home tidy and tends to our garden. He has done this without one word of complaint and for a young man who didn’t choose this life, I think that’s miraculous.”

Lisa nominated David for Broadland District Council’s ‘Carer of the Year’ Award, which he won in 2015. David said the recognition has meant a lot:

“With there being little care for my wife’s condition, being recognised by my community has meant a huge deal to me, I feel valued and reminded that people do care about us. We may be isolated but we are not alone and my award is a daily reminder of this.”

66 year old Joy Salter lives in Acle. She cared for her daughter Zoe who has learning difficulties for 38 years and now cares for her 76 year old husband John who has a range of health issues, including osteoarthritis, heart and blood problems. She welcomes the award category:

Unpaid carers save the community thousands of pounds every year because they’re often looking after someone who might, otherwise, receive even more support from local health and social services. Carers keep going regardless – even if they suffer health or emotional problems themselves –   so we welcome nominations from the local community for this award because it means acknowledgement of their role and contribution.

Norfolk Carers is calling on more councils and organisations in the county to consider a category for unpaid carers when putting together local community award schemes. The organisation’s Jo Phillips:

“It’s really important to raise the profile of unpaid carers. Often people will go months or years before seeking help because they’re unaware there is even a name for what they are doing. By rewarding those people who care for a friend or family member, it not only acknowledges their efforts but means other unpaid carers may understand their role better and reach for support more readily.”

Norfolk Carers is urging residents of Broadland to look around in their community and identify anyone who is working hard to look after a friend or family member, who may also finds themselves isolated, and consider nominating them for this award. Cialis is the newest drug for the treatment of erectile dysfunction approved by the FDA. The main difference of Cialis Soft is the speed of action (soft pills work faster than the normal ones) and the method of application. Scientists and doctors conducted many different experiments and studies on the influence of Cialis Soft on the human body. During the studies, it was found that the main component of Cialis is a selective inhibitor. This is an enzyme present in the muscles of the inner vessels, skeleton, kidneys and lungs, platelets, as well as in the muscles of the penis.

Cllr Andrew Proctor is Leader of Broadland District Council:

“Across Broadland, much like the rest of the country, we know there are individuals silently working hard to look after loved ones who require extra care. If this sounds like someone you know, I would encourage you to nominate them for the Carer of the Year Award so they can be given the recognition which they deserve.”

Norfolk Carers is a one-stop service for unpaid carers in the county providing a range of services accessible through a free Advice Line. Call the team on 0808 808 9876 Text Only: 07497 002864