Are you a carer?
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, may be an adult or a child but if they rely on you for support, then you are a carer.
The new NHS framework is steering its focus towards providing better support for carers. If you are currently a carer we would like to invite you to attend an Annual Health Check in order for us to make sure your health needs are regularly assessed. If you have already told us you are a carer you will have received an invitation for this health check. However, if we don’t know you are a carer then you could be losing out on a valuable check-up with us.
We would be grateful if you could let us know you have become a carer, either by telling the nurse when you have your flu vaccination, or at reception, or via emailing to parkburyhouse.info@nhs.net
Let your clinician know that you are a carer.
For further information about carers please visit Carers in Herts…
Carer rights
As a carer you have specific legal rights and entitlements. Knowing your rights can help you to get the support that you need.
These rights for carers include:
- the right to have your needs assessed by your local authority
- the right to receive direct payments so that you can chose what services to have
- rights in the workplace
For further information please visit NHS Choices.
Young Carers
Young Carers are children and young people who care for a member of their family who may be ill, have a physical or learning disability, or a mental health, drug or alcohol problem.
For further information please visit http://www.carersinherts.org.uk/how-we-can-help/young-carers
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.
Carewaves Newsletter
Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home
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.
Finding appropriate housing, or adapting either your home or the home of the person you care for, can make your life as a carer a lot easier.
Finance and Law
Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring
Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to
How your benefits may be affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after
Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring
Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers
Carers’ Discount Passport Scheme
Support for Bereaved Carers
Carers of someone who has recently passed away can feel lonely, isolated and confused. It can help them if they know that they are not alone and that there are services available to support them.
If a carer’s life is impacted by the recent bereavement of someone they loved, cared about and provided caring support for then Bereavement Support service at Carers in Hertfordshire may be able to help.
Carers in Hertfordshire have bereavement volunteers who provide support over the phone and through group sessions. To find out more about how bereaved carers can access these services, contact the Carers Bereavement Group via email at bereavement.group@virginmedia.com.
Learn more by visiting www.carersinherts.org.uk
Lists of organisations that can help you choose your care
Carer Support Hubs
