Providing care for someone

You may not think of yourself as a ‘carer’. However, if you look after a family member or friend without payment for reasons including a lifelong condition, illness, disability, serious injury, mental health difficulty, addiction, or because they need extra help as they grow older, you are recognised as one.

Information and advice

Community Solutions can help with advice on benefits such as carers allowance and attendance allowance, as well as finding other services and organisations that may be able to offer support. They are available online, by telephone or in-person at a community hub event.

The Adult Social Care pop-up information shop (The Gazebo) carries a wide range of information of interest to carers and is staffed by social work professionals if you would like an informal chat.

You can also sign up for a monthly information for carers newsletter.

Carer support

Other forms of support may be available through  Adult Social Care such as:

A carers assessment – this may identify areas where you need extra support or services to help you manage well and continue in your caring role, including:

  • the carer’s emergency card is a contingency plan with a card to provide planned, urgent, alternative care for the person you look after in an emergency
  • the short breaks for carers service can allow you to take a break from caring and look after your own wellbeing
  • access to a day care centre for the person you look after
  • longer periods of respite such as a few days away at a residential centre for the ‘cared for’ person (other forms of respite may be considered)
  • direct payments to fund services that you organise and manage.

There are many carer support groups across the borough and online. Dementia cafes and 'singing for the brain' sessions can provide a break and an opportunity to socialise.

For further information or to start a carers assessment, contact the First Contact Team or visit Autonomy, the online assessment portal.

You can find other sources of information, advice and support below.

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