Do you look after someone?

Transcription

1 Do you look after someone? Are you missing out on everything you are entitled to as a carer? It is estimated that there are almost 7 million people in the UK providing unpaid support to, a family member, friend or neighbour who would otherwise not be able to manage. The help and support they need may be permanent or temporary (e.g. following an operation) It is estimated that Just over one in ten patients on any GP practice list is a carer, although may go unrecognised. Carers are extremely valuable support to the people they look after. They enable their cared for to maintain their independence and quality of life. As a society, we do not have the financial resources to provide this level of individual support without them. What do we mean by a carer? A carer is someone who spends a significant proportion of his or her life giving unpaid support. You are a carer if you provide help and support, unpaid, to a family member, friend or neighbour who would otherwise not be able to manage. The person you care for may have a physical, or learning disability, dementia, mental health problems, may misuse drugs or alcohol or may be ill or frail. The person may live with you or elsewhere, maybe an adult or child but if they rely on you for support, then you are a carer. Anyone can become a carer. Carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age. To get support as a carer Tell your GP Register your carers status with the receptionist or ask to speak with the carers link based within the practice. Book an appointment with your GP if your caring role is affecting your health Ask for a leaflet for your local Carers Health and Wellbeing Advisor Call to arrange to speak with your local Carers Health and Wellbeing advisor for further support and advice

2 Carers Health and Wellbeing Service This is how we can support you in your caring role A website full of useful information on a range of subjects for carers Information and advice Support and access to a carers assessment A dedicated telephone advice line Support to find and refer to relevant services Local information events Referral to our sister project Support for Carers who offer Help Line Telephone Befriending Support Groups Newsletters And more For more information and support contact your local Carers Health and Wellbeing advisor

3 Carers Health & Wellbeing Service Carers Wellbeing Prescription Look after your own health and wellbeing Eat properly, try and get some exercise when you can. Register as a carer at your GP Practice. Surgeries may offer carers a free flu jab, flexible appointments and yearly health checks. Ask your surgery for a carers registration form. Look after your self emotionally Ask others to help Learn a relaxation technique Take a break Don t feel alone You are entitled to a carers assessment by your local authority Apply for carers allowance Many carers get depressed and anxious. Speak to your Carers health and wellbeing advisor, friends and family members about how you feel. Tell your doctor you are feeling low, and ask them what help they can give you. Many people want to help but don t know how. Give them specific things you need doing and specific times you need them to come. Relaxation techniques can help you feel more rested. They can help you make time for yourself and they don t have to take lots of time. Caring can be hard work and stressful. Having a break can make all the difference. If you struggle to get a break from caring you may be eligible a carers assessment to help you get that break from caring. Try to keep up with your social contacts, so that you and the person you care for do not become isolated. Get in touch with other carers in your local area. Join local carers support groups, share your experiences and get emotional support from other carers who know what you are going through. If you cannot get out and have a computer you may want to join an online carers support group. A carers assessment is a way of identifying your needs a s a carer and what effect of being a career has on you and your life. You may be eligible for support to help your caring role. The assessment may also help you get support to have a break from your caring role. To qualify you must spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone who is receiving a disability benefit. See benefits leaflet in this pack. Get a carers emergency card The carers emergency card is a card that carers carry around in their wallet/purse that identifies you as a carer. So that if you have an accident / emergency the emergency services will know that the person you care for needs help. For more information, advice or support on any of the above please call the Carers Health and Wellbeing Service on

4 Carers Allowance Are you eligible for financial help? Carers allowance is a benefit that helps you look after someone with substantial care needs. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. Carers allowance is taxable. It can also affect your other benefits. You might not get carers allowance if you already receive state pension. You might be able to get Carers Allowance if all of the following apply: You are 16 or over You spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone Have been in England, Scotland or Wales for at least 2 of the last 3 years You normally live in England, Scotland or Wales, or you live abroad as a member of the armed forces You are not in full time education or studying for 21 hours a week or more You earn no more than 110 a week (after taxes, care costs while you are at work and 50% of what you pay into your pension) Find out more at

5 Benefits for the person you care for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) PIP helps with some of the extra costs caused by long term ill-health or a disability if the person you care for is aged The rate depends on how their condition affects them. not the condition itself. They will need an assessment to work out the level of help they get. The rate will be regularly reassessed to make sure they are getting the right support. To qualify for PIP, they must: Be aged 16 to 64 Have a long -term health condition or disability and difficulties with activities related to daily living and/or mobility Be in Great Britain when you claim- there are some exceptions, e.g. members and family members of the armed forces have been in Great Britain for at least 2 of the last 3 years Be habitually resident in the UK, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands Not be subject to immigration control( unless they are a sponsored immigrant) There are some exceptions to these conditions if they are living or coming from another EEA country or Switzerland. They can get PIP whether they are in work or not. Find out more at Attendance Allowance The person you care for could get Attendance Allowance to help with personal care because they are physically or mentally disabled and aged 65 or over. It is paid at two different rates and how much they get depends on their disability. They can get Attendance Allowance if they are 65 or over and the following apply: they have a physical disability (including sensory disability, e.g. blindness),a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or both. Their disability is severe enough for them to need help caring for themselves or someone to supervise them, for their own or someone else s safety Find out more at

6 Useful Numbers Adult Social Care Customer Service Monday- Thursday 8.30am-5pm Fridays 8.30am -4.30pm Adult Emergency Duty Team Evenings, Weekends & Bank holidays First Response Children's Team Children's Emergency Duty Team pm-8am Carers Direct Helpline Monday to Friday, 9am-8pm and from 11am- 4pm at weekends. The helpline is closed on bank holidays. If you are a carer, the helpline advisers can give you information to help make decisions about your personal support needs and the needs of the person you're looking after. The Silver line The Silver Line is the only free confidential helpline providing information, friendship and advice to older people, open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. CALM Helpline for men Lines open 7 days a week 5pm Midnight Offering support to men in the UK of any age, who are down or in crisis.

7 Richmond Fellowship Monday- Friday 2pm-9am Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays : 24 hours Mental Health Support if you are in a crisis Rethink Focus Line Lines Open 7 days a week 5pm-1am Provides telephone support and information to people with mental health problems, and their carers, outside office hours Samaritans Open 24 hours 7 days a week. It offers confidential and emotional support. If you have feelings of distress, despair or suicidal thoughts they may be able to help. UAVA-United against violence and Abuse Providing support for people of domestic abuse across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 24 Hour National Domestic abuse helpline National Debt Line Monday-Friday 9am-8pm Saturday pm Citizens Advice For general advice please call between 9am-4pm Free, impartial, confidential and independent advice