Are you looking after someone?

You may not see yourself as a ‘carer’ – you may see yourself as a spouse, son, daughter, partner, friend or neighbour. But if you regularly support and care for someone who could not manage without you, then you are a carer. There is help available to support you to carry on with your caring role.

If you provide, or intend to provide, regular unpaid support to someone who could not manage without your support, the law (Care Act 2014) says you have the right to have your own needs assessed, even if the person you care for has refused support services or an assessment of their own needs. This assessment is called a ‘carers’ assessment’.

A carers’ assessment gives you the chance to discuss your caring role and how it affects your life with a Carers’ Assessment and Support Worker. It is informal and is not a test to see if you are able to care; it is a way of finding out what your needs are as a carer and of finding ways to support you. The discussions are confidential, and you will not be committed to anything that you are not happy with. Discussions may include:

• Any concerns you may have about the person you care for. • How caring affects your own health and wellbeing. • What help and support is available. • How to get a break from your caring role and have time to yourself. • What would happen in an emergency. • Help with balancing caring with employment and support to return to either paid or voluntary work. • How to get help with benefits and legal matters. • Future and advanced planning. • Training and leisure needs. • The possibility of a Direct Payment as a carer (subject to eligibility). • Access to Sitting Services. • Any other questions, issues or concerns you have.

Carers’ assessments can be requested through Northamptonshire Carers. The Anne Goodman Centre for Carers, 123 Midland Road, Wellingborough NN8 1LU Tel: 01933 677907 Email: carers@northamptonshire-carers.org Web: www.northamptonshire-carers.org

Voluntary organisations that provide carers’ services in partnership with Northamptonshire Carers include the following.

SERVE – provides social activities and opportunities, and training for carers across Northamptonshire.

TuVida – provides an emergency and planned breaks service. The aim of this service is to provide emergency breaks and rapid response support to carers at short notice, to deal with emergency situations or to prevent a crisis from occurring. The service also provides support for one-off appointments and events to offer the carer more support and flexibility to deal with life’s unexpected events. The services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Alzheimer’s Society – believes passionately that life doesn’t end when dementia begins. It is there for anyone affected by dementia and aims to keep people with dementia connected to their lives and the people who matter most. Alzheimer’s Society has a host of factsheets, a helpline and an online forum where people can talk to others in a similar situation. These resources can also be useful for carers.

Services for people living with dementia and their carers include Memory Matters Groups and Singing for the Brain. For more information, see page 52.

DAY CENTRE

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