Carers Information Pack Carers Health and Wellbeing Service
Carers Information Pack Carers Health and Wellbeing Service
Company Registration No. 7517828 Registered Charity No. 1141274 Dear Carer Caring comes with many mixed emotions and can impact on your own health and wellbeing. With the right support advice and information it can remove some of the stresses which come with your caring responsibilities. We have enclosed lots of useful information in this pack including a form to complete and return so you can be registered as a carer at the surgery. This is important as you will be entitled to flu jab. If you would like to speak to our carer’s health and wellbeing advisor this can be arranged through the surgery or alternatively the contact details are enclosed. The Care Act was introduced in April 2015 which is good news for carers as you are entitled to a carer’s assessment. This could also offer you support advice and information in so many different ways. If you need help with completing the form ask the carers health and wellbeing advisor. We hope you find this useful and look forward to hearing from you. CARERS HEALTH AND WELLBEING PROJECT Voluntary Action South Leicestershire The Settling Rooms St Mary’s Place Springfield Street Market Harborough Leicestershire LE 16 7 DR. Telephone - 01858 411380 Email - wellbeing@vasl. org. uk Visit - www. carerswellbeing. org
Do you look after someone? Are you missing out on everything you are entitled to as a carer? It is estimated that there 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 01858 411380 to arrange to speak with your local Carers Health and Wellbeing advisor further support and advice
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 01858 411380
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 Many carers get depressed 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. Ask others to help 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. Learn a relaxation technique 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. Take a break 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. Don’t feel alone 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. You are entitled to a carers assessment by your local authority A carers assessment is a way of identifying your needs 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. Apply for carers allowance 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 01858 411380
Are you eligible for financial help? Carers Allowance 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 –www. gov. uk/carers-allowance/eligibility
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 16 -64. 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 www. gov. uk/pip 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 www. gov. uk/attendance-allowance/overview
Useful Numbers Adult Social Care Customer Service 0116 305 0004 Monday- Thursday 8. 30 am-5 pm Fridays 8. 30 am -4. 30 pm Adult Emergency Duty Team 0116 255 1606 Evenings, Weekends & Bank holidays First Response Children's Team 0116 305 0005 Children's Emergency Duty Team 0116 454 1004 6 pm-8 am Carers Direct Helpline 0300123 1053 Monday to Friday, 9 am-8 pm and from 11 am 4 pm 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 0800 4 70 80 90 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 0800 58 58 58 Lines open 7 days a week 5 pm – Midnight Offering support to men in the UK of any age , who are down or in crisis.
Richmond Fellowship 0808 800 3302 Leicestershire. Helpline@Richmond. Fellowship. org. uk Monday- Friday 2 pm-9 am Sat, Sun & Bank Holidays : 24 hours Mental Health Support – if you are in a crisis Rethink Focus Line 08000 27 21 27 Lines Open 7 days a week 5 pm-1 am Provides telephone support and information to people with mental health problems, and their carers, outside office hours Samaritans 08457 909090 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 0800 802 0028 Providing support for people of domestic abuse across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland 24 Hour National Domestic abuse helpline 0800 2000 247 National Debt Line 0808 4000 Monday-Friday 9 am-8 pm Saturday 9. 30 -1 pm Citizens Advice 0300 330 1025 For general advice please call between 9 am-4 pm Free, impartial, confidential and independent advice
Consent to be registered as a carer I …………………………. . . . . Hereby give consent for my name to be registered with …………………………………. GP Practice as a carer, and also with the Carers Health and Wellbeing Service. The Health and Wellbeing Service can be contacted on 01858 411380. They have a wide range of services that support carers. In order to offer relevant support it would be helpful to have basic information about the cared-for persons condition. Please note that although this information can be freely included, personal details need the cared–for persons consent. However please be assured that all information will be treated in confidence in accordance with the Data Protection Act. Carers details: Name: ………………………. . . . Title: ………………………. . . . Address: …………………………. . Date of Birth: ………………………. ……………………………. . . …………………………. . . Telephone: ……………………. . Mobile: ……………………………… Postcode: ……………………. . . . E-mail Address: ………………………. . Carers signature: …………………………… Cared-for persons details: Name: ………………………. . . . Date of Birth: ………………………. . . . Date: ………………………. . Date of Birth: ……………………………. .
- Slides: 10