Are you a Carer?
A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who would not manage without their help. This could be dut to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
Carers save Social Care and Health 57 billion a year!
Identifying yourself as a carer with your GP pracatice could be a gateway to support that could reduce the stress of your carning role and help you to give the quality of care you would choose to give, reduce your isolation and extend the length of time you are able to continue to provide that care.
The Peel Medical Practice has started a new service called the 'Carers Clinic' in partnership with the Carers Association Southern Staffordshire (CASS). The clinic is held in surgery on the first Tuesday of every month. Patients who are carers can simply ask at the reception desk if they can book them selves into the Carers Clinic.
NHS Choices information:
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?
Carers support groups
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 may be 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