Caring for the carers

MIRANDA DeBLASIO: “I’m chuffed to pieces and overwhelmed, but completely floored.”

A WOMAN who makes it possible for Oldham’s unpaid carers to get the support and advice they need to continue caring for a loved one has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award.

Miranda DeBlasio works for the Gaddum charity, based at the Link Centre in Union Street, Oldham.

She is responsible for the day-to-day running of Oldham Carers Centre, which provides aid services to around 800 carers.

It had only 270 registered carers 12 months ago, but a massive push by the charity to encourage carers to take advantage of the help it has to offer has seen a threefold rise.

Always keen to take the opportunity to publicise the work of the charity,Miranda (39) said it was just the tip of the iceberg.

She explained: “There were 23,000 carers in Oldham according to the 2001 census, but there are just 5,000 recognised in local services.”

Miranda lives in Royton with her five-year-old son, Jack, and is herself a carer — for her Italian parents, Andrea and Maria DeBlasio.

Delighted to learn she had been nominated, she said: “I’m chuffed to pieces and overwhelmed, but completely
floored.”

She was put forward by Yvonne Nema for help Miranda gave her in caring for her mother, Carol Thornton.

Yvonne said: “When you feel alone and there’s no one backing you it’s very stressful. Miranda is lovely — she always has time to help and listen.”