Are You a Carer?

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.

Caring for a parent 

Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home


Young adult carers

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.


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?

Contact

Carer Support Wiltshire

Tel: 0800 181 4118

Fax: 01380 871758

[email protected]

http://www.carersinwiltshire.co.uk

Email 

[email protected]

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

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

Making Decisions for Someone Else

Includes powers of attorney and mental capacity.

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

Virtual Support For Carers

Carer Support Wiltshire has a lot of information and advice to help carers during the coronavirus pandemic. 

Please visit their website at http://www.carerssupportwiltshire.co.uk for all the latest information and help available.

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).