Are You a Carer?
Many people don’t recognise themselves as Carers, but spend a proportion of their time unpaid caring for a family member, friend of neighbour and “just get on with it”. Although we have many patients on our Carers Register, there are potentially hundreds more that we are unaware of. Each year there is a 1 in 5 chance of any one of us becoming a carer, many have jobs and combine the difficulties of working with their care role.
The demands of informal caring can be very stressful. Many of our patients are informal carers and either haven’t recognised that they are actually a Carer or don’t admit to it for one reason or another.
The Acorn Surgery Team is dedicated to supporting Carers – adult, young and young adult carers alike. We are keen to identify those of our patients who are in a caring role and spend some of their time helping another person who is dependent on them in some way.
If you pass your details to one of our Carers Champions, we can organise a ‘care-prescription’ for you – this means we will pass your contact details only to the Carers Trust Crossroads Care so they can be in touch with you about the range of services and support that is available to people who are Carers. It’s often very hard work and many carers themselves become ill and dependent because of the stresses that role puts on them.
We care for our Carers! If you are please let us know – you deserve some care for yourself… Either phone to speak to one of the Team, email us at [email protected] and put ‘Carer’ in the subject heading or download this leaflet and either bring into the Reception, or post to us at the surgery address.
Essential support for unpaid carers
Are you in contact with patients who need the help of a family member or friend due to their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction? Or are they themselves supporting someone else?
Caring for someone can have a significant impact on someone’s health and wellbeing. Unpaid carers often do not know of the help available to them.
Caring Together provide free support for people who are looking after a family member or friend. You can make a referral or someone can let Caring Together know about their situation so they can get support and advice which is tailored for them.
You or the carer can do that at caringtogether.org/refer-a-carer/ Or if you or an unpaid carer want to chat about what is available you can contact 0345 241 0954 and you can also email us on [email protected]
Carers Trust have produce a range of information which we have uploaded onto our website for easy access for patients.
For more information on Carers Trust Cambridgeshire, click here. http://www.carerstrustcambridgeshire.org/
Carers UK App ‘Jointly’
The ‘Jointly’ app can be downloaded for free by using the following access code.
DGTL3385
“The app makes sharing care with others easier, less stressful,more organised and was designed by carers”
This app provides the following;
- One central place to store and share information about the person being looked after.
- Simple, intuitive group communication to keep everyone informed and better connected.
- Shared task lists and calendar to help coordinate responsibilities and organise what needs to be done.
There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
- Caring for a parent – Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home.
- Telling people – Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you’re a carer is important so they understand and can support you.
- Taking a break – Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it’s essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.
- Housing and carers – Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?
- Young Carers
Contact Carers Direct
Telephone
Helpline Information
http://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx
Office Hours
Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits for carers – Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role.
- Benefits for the person you care for – Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
- Death and benefits – How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- Managing someone’s legal affairs – Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after.
- Other benefits – Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring.
- Personal and household finance – Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers.
- Social fund
- Tax credits – Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible.
Help for people to attend medical appointments
If you have patients who also have a role in looking after a family member or friend they may find it hard to attend their own medical appointments. For example, this could be challenges around getting to winter vaccinations or hospital appointments.
Caring Together are able to provide help in these situations such as providing care professionals to look after the person they care for. See more details at www.caringtogether.org/fcp, email [email protected] or call 0345 241 0954.