HEALTH & WELLBEING
Tell your doctor
Tell the local authority Social Care Department – Adult Contact Team (ACT)
Ask for help from other family members and friends
Let your employer know
Claim any benefits you may be entitled to
Confident Carer programme (DPfC)
You may be taking on a caring role for the first time and don’t know what to expect or been a carer for a long time. It may have happened suddenly or gradually by you taking more and more responsibility for the person you are looking after. It may be something you accept willingly, out of love, out of duty, or a bit of both or you may feel it was thrust upon you and you had no choice.
For carers who choose to carry on in their caring role, it is essential for them to take care of their own health and make time for themselves.
There are a number of things you can do to receive support:
Tell your doctor
Make sure that your doctor knows you are a carer, so you can get the support and recognition for your own health needs as well as those of the person you care for. Your doctor can support you in a number of ways, such as accommodating you if you wish to make separate time to talk about your own health needs, either face-to-face or on the phone. Many also hold a register of the carers in their practice and may be able to help by giving you health checks, flu jabs and priority appointments; some may have a carers support group.
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Tell the local authority Social Care Department – Adult Contact Team (ACT)
In order to access services such as homecare, day centres, equipment etc the person you care for has to have an assessment of their needs by an assessment officer from the local authority social care team. As a carer you also have the right to an assessment of your own needs even if the person you care for refuses one.
Caring for another person can be physically and mentally exhausting. Everyone needs to have a break from work and carers are no different. The local authority can arrange respite for you and the person you care for.
Their contact details are:
| Address: | Adult Contact Team P.O. Box 251 The Council House College Road Doncaster DN1 3DA |
| Tel: | 01302 737391 |
| Email: | adultcontactteam@doncaster.gov.uk |
It is important that you and the person you care for have a choice about how care is provided when you take a break, which may be for a couple of hours, overnight or longer.
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Ask for help from other family members and friends
Often family members and friends do not realise how stressful both mentally and physically caring for another person can be. They may want to help but do not want to intrude.
When talking with friends and family, let them know how they can help. It might be useful to make a list of all the different things you have to do in caring for someone and to see how various tasks might be shared between family members/friends. Networks of support from friends and family are essential for many carers.
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Let your employer know
Juggling the pressures of work and caring mean that you often need your employer to support you. Increasingly, employers are recognising the value of supporting carers who now have the right to request flexible working.
Please contact us for more information about work and caring.
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Claim any benefits you may be entitled to
For many taking on a caring role means facing a life of poverty, isolation, frustration, ill health and depression. Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights.
The benefits system can seem complex but we may be able to help you. We can give you advice on your benefit entitlements and details of local agencies that can support you to make a claim.
Confident Carer programme (DPfC)
Join the Confident Carer programme at The Carers House. Our details can be found on the Contact Us page. Also, see our Services page for more information.