CSAB continue to support National Carers Week 2024. This bulletin will explore some of the professionals as a carer you can speak to and the help or support available.
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Whether you've just started looking after a loved one or have been supporting someone for a while, this checklist from Age UKwill help you get the support and information you need.
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Carers UK hold weekly online Care for a Cuppa chats via Zoom. These offer a space to meet other carers, share experiences and find mutual support.
For more information on the session times and dates, please click here.
Watch a video of Norman sharing his experience of Care for a Cuppa here.
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If your GP (General Practitioner) knows that you are a carer, they can provide you with really useful support, advice and information. For example, they can refer you to local support networks in your area or help you understand what you're entitled to as a carer – such as a free flu jab.
It’s important to tell them about your caring responsibilities so that they can offer support. You may find it helpful to use this letter template to help register your role.
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Why should I let my GP know?
Caring can take its toll on your health and so it’s helpful for your GP to know about any extra pressures you are facing that might have an impact on your physical health or emotional wellbeing.
Your GP can also let you know about available support or services in your area. They may be able to recommend or refer you to suitable specialists including occupational therapists, physiotherapists, continence advisers and dieticians or other more general sources of support your primary care team can offer.
What should I tell my GP?
Tell your GP that you have caring responsibilities as soon as possible. They can then record this on your medical records.
If they know you are a carer and likely to be under pressure at times, they will be able to offer more tailored advice and, if necessary, provide more support when they diagnose and treat you in the future.
GPs in England are being urged to adopt new measures dedicated to ensuring young carers are offered flu vaccinations, regular health check-ups and mental health screening routinely. We hope this initiative will also be extended more widely in the UK and to adult carers.
What kind of help could my GP provide?
You could ask your GP or local practice about:
- any recent developments on treatments for the condition of the person/ those you care for
- how you can balance the caring needs of the person you look after with your own
- local services such as continence services and patient transport to hospital appointments
- other sources of support and advice - this could include the social services department and local voluntary agencies.
- how to arrange home visits if your caring responsibilities make it difficult to attend appointments at the surgery.
More tips...
- You could arrange 'double' appointments for both you and the person you care for at the same time to avoid having to visit the surgery twice.
- You could arrange for repeat prescriptions to be delivered to your local pharmacy to save you picking them up.
- You could ask your GP for help to provide supporting letters and information to prove your role as a carer and enable you to access certain benefits.
Get a carer's assessment with your local council
A carer's assessment will help you find out what you need and what could help you with your caring role. Some of the outcomes could be:
- respite care
- information about local support groups for carers
- help with caring
- equipment that would make your life easier as a carer.
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Register as a carer with your GP
Let your doctor know that you're caring for someone, as you may be entitled to additional health services such as a free flu jab. Caring is hard, so it's important they know and can look out for your health, as well as offer you advice and support.
Make time for yourself and your interests as often as you can
When you're caring for someone else, your own interests and hobbies can often take a back seat. Although it can be hard to carve out time, it's so important that you still do the things that make you feel like you.
Are there any friends or family who could support you for an hour, or any local day centres that could give you a bit of a break every week? That could be through a charity that supports people with specific conditions, or an Age UK day centre.
Take a break from caring
You wouldn't work an office job for a full year without any holiday, and caring should be no different.
Even if you can't afford it on your own, there may be support available to help you with respite care
Balancing work and caring can be really tiring and stressful. This is why it's important to tell your employer about your caring responsibilities, because they may start to affect your productivity at work. If your employer knows, they may be able to help you deal with the stress, and they'll understand if you need to take days off at the last minute too. Think about asking for flexible working.
If at some point balancing work and caring becomes too much, you could ask your employer about opportunities for flexible working. This could mean working from home a few days a week or starting and finishing work at an earlier time.
You have certain rights as a carer, like the right to time off in an emergency, and the right to request flexible working.
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If you have the permission of the person you care for, get in touch with your local council to ask for a care needs assessment
A social care professional will assess how they manage everyday tasks and what they want to achieve. The professional will look at the person's needs and consider what care and support could be useful.
The person you care for may be entitled to different benefits than you. They can use our online Benefits calculator to find out what to apply for.
If they're entitled to benefits they're not currently claiming, you may be able to help with the application forms. But if you're struggling, your local Age UK may be able to help the person you care for to apply.
There are changes you can make in your home to make life with a long-term condition or disability a lot easier, from simple, practical tips, to useful technology and larger adaptations. These adaptations could allow the person you care for to stay happy, healthy and comfortable at home.
Although it can be difficult, it's useful for the person you care for to think about the future and getting their affairs in order. It may be useful to think about their future care needs, their preferences, power of attorney and whether their will is up to date
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As a carer, looking after yourself is just as important as looking after the person you care for; that’s why all carers in the UK are entitled to a statutory carer’s assessment from their local authority. This differs from any assessments that the person you care for may have or need, this assessment is all about you and your needs as a carer.
Watch this video to find out more.....
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The Care Act 2014 introduced a national eligibility threshold for care and support. This means that all Councils consider the same level of care and support needs when they assess what help they can give you. You can get a carers assessment if you are looking after someone else. Carer's assessments are carried out by Carers Support Organisations in Cumbria. You can ask for a carer's assessment from your local carer's organisation or contact your local Adult Social Care office using the numbers below.
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Carer Support Carlisle & Eden
Penrith: 01768 890280 Carlisle:01228 580214
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Furness Carers
01229 822822
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Carer Support South Lakes
01539 815970
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Carer Support West Cumbria
01900 821976
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Carer Support Cumbria
08443 843230
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Get in touch!
For more information please contact us:
Email: csab@cumbria.gov.uk
Web: www.cumbriasab.org.uk
Twitter: @cumbriasab
E-bulletins: cumbria.gov.uk/signup
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