Family carers

Are you a Carer?

It is recognised that the support carers provide to the person they care for on a daily basis can help that person live independently in their own home for longer. However, caring can be physically and mentally exhausting and emotionally draining. The needs of the person being cared for can change over time, or they can decline very quickly. Before you realise it you could find yourself in a position where the person you care for is no longer able to look after themselves and, for whatever reason, you are no longer able to provide the care they need to manage on a daily basis. More often than not it is only when a crisis situation arises that carers contact social care services. However, it’s better for all concerned to look at all the options available before a crisis arises, residential or nursing care being one option. As a carer, considering residential or nursing care with and for the person you care for can be extremely difficult. You will experience many feelings during this period such as guilt because you can no longer cope, so you may feel you are letting the person you care for down. It is important to know that you can only do so much as a carer and that the emotions you are experiencing are normal. The important thing is to get support to help you and the person you care for make the right decision.

What options are available?

It is important that you and the person that you care for explore all the options available to you. Social care services can help you do this. There may be more help that can be made available in your home that will help you both, such as equipment and/or, perhaps, more regular short breaks in a residential care home for the person you care for to give you time for yourself. It is important, where possible, to talk through the options with the person you care for. If residential care is an option, perhaps the only realistic one, there may be a residential home close by that you may wish to visit together and perhaps the person you care for would like to have a trial stay. There may be people in the home that you know. The care home staff will also be able to tell you how you can be involved and what you can expect from them. This may help you both feel better about the situation. However, if the person you care for is reluctant to discuss the situation or you are finding it difficult to progress with the move into residential care, then you may consider talking it through with a social worker, if the person you care for has one, or your GP. There are also local organisations that can help such as the local carers centre or the branch of the Relatives and Residents Association 01302 744459 or 01302 782697.