We know that carer’s are often “hidden” looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks and may not see themselves as a carer.
Caring for someone is an important and valuable role in the community, which is often a 24-hour job that can be very demanding and isolating for the carer. Carers should receive appropriate support by way of access to accurate information on a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and not least, a listening ear when things get too much.
If you are a carer, please ask at Reception for a ‘Carers Identification Form’. This is an opportunity to let the practice know so that we can provide you with the relevant information and advice that maybe needed to support you.
As a carer, you are entitled to have your needs assessed by Adult Care Services.
A Carer’s Assessment is a chance to talk about your needs as a Carer and the possible ways help could be given. It also looks at the needs of the person you care for. There is no charge for an assessment.
Does the person I care for have to be registered at the same practice as me?
Where the person being cared for is registered elsewhere the practice will not be able to identify routinely where the relationship has ceased. Periodically, the Carer may be asked to re-confirm his/her status.
Where the person being cared for is a registered patient, the relationship can be affirmed more often.
What is a carer?
If you look after your partner, or a relative or a friend who is ill or disabled, you are a carer, even if you do not think of yourself that way.
Your rights as a carer:
Having a break
Looking after yourself
Help at home
Adapting your home
There are many ways that you may care for someone. For instance you might:
- Be on hand 24hrs a day to provide care
- Arrange hospital appointments for someone
- Drop round each day to keep someone company or cook their dinner.
Whether you’ve cared for the person for a long time, are temporarily helping them, or have just become a carer, take time to review your options and find out what support is available to you.
Support for Carers
Contact Carers Direct
Telephone: 0808 802 0202
Email: CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk
Office Hours: Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.
Resources
Age Concern carer’s
Tel: 0121 362 3650
Services & Support – Age Concern Birmingham
Birmingham Carer’s Hub
Tel: 0333 006 971
Home – Birmingham Carers Hub
Birmingham Council (Social Services)
Tel: 0121 303 1234
Birmingham Carers Association
Tel: 0808 808 7777
UK | Carers UK
Spurgeons Young Carers Birmingham
Tel: 0121 227 7000
Email: birminghamyc@spurgeons.org
CERS – Carers Emergency Response Service
Tel: 0121 622 5521
Alzheimer’s Society
Tel: 0300 222 1122
Email: helpline@alzheimers.org.uk
Non-urgent advice: Information & Support
A guide to care and support: Information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
Caring for someone: Advice on providing care, medicines etc.
Care after hospital: Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
Taking a break: Caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
Support and benefits for carers: Caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
Work and Disability: Guidance, support and help with employment issues.
Being a young carer: Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support
Benefits for the under-65s: Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
Benefits for the over-65s: Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
Carer’s Assessment: How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
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