Are You a Carer?
If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you
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?
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
http://http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone is the governments website dedicated to carers, and contains a wide range of information.
Useful Contacts
www.essex.gov.uk/connectingcarers
Carers Direct: 0808 8020202
CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk
Crossroads: 01268 660860
Castle Point Association of Voluntary Services:01268 638416
Carers Hotline, Essex County Council Carers Assessment Line: 01248 434375
www.carersuk.org
www.carers.org
Carers support groups
Once you have your username and password, simply click on the picture below and log into your account. We advise that the first thing you do is to change your password to something you will be able to remember easily. Remember not to give your username and password to anyone. Our staff will never ask for your password.
Contact Carers Direct
Telephone
0808 802 0202
Helpline Information
http://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx
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.
A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.
The term carer should not be confused with a care worker, or care assistant, who receives payment for looking after someone.
A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18 carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person, which would normally be taken by an adult.
Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age.
Many carers do not consider themselves to be a carer, they are just looking after their mother, son, or best friend, just getting on with it and doing what anyone else would in the same situation.
If you are a carer, young or old, there are several routes you can take for additional support and information:
Speak to a member of Oaklands Health care Team. When making the appointment, inform the receptionist you are a carer and wish to discuss your situation. Also check that your medical records show you are a carer. The surgery is a route into the social services, counselling and organisations that may be able to help you.
Speak to our Prescription Clerks. They can discuss home delivery of your medication with a local pharmacy of your choice. In some circumstances, they may be able to arrange for a pharmacy to pick up your medication requests from your home. We aim to make your medication management as easy as possible.
Jeanette Worboyes (administrator) worked as a carer for 12 years, and is happy to provide any information she can regarding care services and organisations.
Speak to the local council for information about services and day centres, that can give you the opportunity to take a short break from your responsibilities, giving you time to relax and recharge.