Carers Awareness week runs from 6th to 12th June 2022
More information is available on the Carers Support Website – https://carersupportwiltshire.co.uk/
If you are a carer please let us know – we may be able to help you click here to download our carers pack.
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.
Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home
Are you aged 16-25? Do you provide support to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour who could not manage without you?
Young adult carers can offer you:
- One to one advice
- emotional support
- useful information
- help to access education and training
- employment advice
- opportunities to take a break
For more information click on the link above or contact Carer Support Wiltshire on 0800 181 4118.
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.
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.
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?
Contact
Carer Support Wiltshire
Tel: 0800 181 4118
Fax: 01380 871758
http://www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk
Office Hours
Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.
Carers support groups
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
Carers Handbook
There is a really useful handbook available to carers containing a wealth of useful information. The Carers Handbook can be accessed by the following link:
https://carersinwiltshire.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Wiltshire-Handbook-for-Carers-2015.pdf
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
How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
Making Decisions for Someone Else
Includes powers of attorney and mental capacity.
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
Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible
Carers Support Wiltshire
Are you looking after someone who couldn’t manage without your help? You could be helping with household tasks such as cleaning or cooking, administering medication, organising and transporting someone to medical appointments, providing personal care or providing emotional support. You could be doing it once a day, a couple of times a week or all the time. There are no time limits to being a carer.
Carers Support Wiltshire support carers through a range of services including:
- Carer cafes
- Here to Talk telephone befriending service
- Specialised peer support groups (such as our military and mental health carer cafes)
- Our family activities and support
- Young carer activities
- Carer well-being workshops which will start in April 2024
- Bereavement Help Points in partnership with Dorothy House and Prospect Hospice
- Distribution of the new Dementia Wristbands
- Carer grants
- GP carer-friendly award
- Hospital carer-friendly award
To find out how they can support you as a carer, go to www.carersupportwiltshire.co.uk or call them for FREE on 0800 181 4118 (Mon – Thurs 9:30 – 4:30, Friday 9:30 – 4:00).
You can also follow them on Facebook and Twitter @CarersWiltshire
Carer’s Assessment
As a Carer, you are entitled to have an assessment of your needs, regardless of what type of caring you do, how much caring you do, what your income is, if you have savings or own your home, or if you live with the person you care for, or not.
Your right to a carer’s assessment is included in the The Care Act 2014 (England) and Children and Families Act 2014 (England). You can find out more about carers’ assessments on NHS Choices.
Once registered with Carers Support Wiltshire they will contact you to talk about your situation. An initial assessment will help them to work out what can be done to make life easier for you. An assessment is not a test about how good you are at caring. It is to work out what can be done to make life easier for you.
Surgery Contacts
If you require further information please call the surgery and ask for a call back from the Carer Lead (Sarah Smith) or one of the Deputies (Wendy Bray and Emma Lewis).