Are You a Carer?
If you are we may be able to help you. To complete a carers form please click here.
Our social prescriber, Joao Ramos, aims to provide support for a wide range of issues which can affect wellbeing. He is able to spend time getting to know you and support you to connect with services in the community. He works closely with community groups, social services and local charities so that he is aware of all that is on offer to support patients at the surgery. Please contact the surgery if you would like us to put you in contact with Joao.
Caring Together
Caring Together’ (formerly Carers Trust) on behalf of the Council.
Telephone
e: 0345 241 0954
Email: hello@caringtogether.org
Do you look after someone? Don’t know where to turn for support and advice?
Would you like to know:
- What support is available locally
- Who the local Carers’ Support Worker is?
- How to make a plan for an emergency?
- How to arrange a Carer’s Assessment?
- How to achieve ongoing personalised support for your situation?
- How to access courses or training such as Moving and Handling or
- Caring with Confidence?
- What help and advice is available online?
- Where you can talk to other carers?
- What your rights are?
- How to take a break from caring?
Caring together can support you with this information
Caring Together, a charity that supports carers across Cambridgeshire, Peterborough and Norfolk is encouraging people to help increase the awareness of the role of carers, which is often hidden, and the support available to them.
Miriam Martin, chief executive of Caring Together said, “Many carers are facing huge pressures, but help is available. Depending on their situation it may be emotional support, help to have some time away from their caring role, practical advice, opportunities to meet others in a similar situation, or help to attend medical appointments that they need.
“Three in five of us are likely to become a carer at some point in our lives, with many more of us likely to need the support of someone to help us.
“This means that caring is an issue that affects all of us. But very often people care for someone they love, and do not realise that the support that they are giving is something that is recognised and that they can be given support with.
“Some rights carers have, for example the right to a carer’s assessment, are set by law. Others may be provided by an employer or school that has policies or support in place carers can access. And we are here to provide advice and information for carers, as well as to raise awareness of the incredible contributions they make.”
The latest findings from the State of Caring Survey by Carers UK highlight just the need for carers to know about the support is available to them:
• Nearly half of carers were caring for more than 90 hours a week (or 12 hours a day).
• The top priority for carers is support with their health and wellbeing.
• Nearly 40% of carers did not know what a carers assessment is – something that they have a right to access.
Earlier this year Caring Together asked young carers about their experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic and found:
• 74% said their ability to cope with their caring role has deteriorated during the pandemic
• 71% said their mental health has been negatively impacted
• Over half of young carers said they had not had any respite or break from their caring role during the pandemic
• 60% felt their education has been negatively impacted
If you or someone you know looks after a family member or friend, you can contact Caring Together. See caringtogether.org, email hello@caringtogether.org or call 0345 241 0954.
Caring Together are also able to help health, education and community organisations, as well as employers, to identify and support carers. More than 60 organisations now hold the Carer Friendly Tick Award, in recognition of what they do and have in place for carers.
NHS Information
There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits for carers
Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
- Benefits for the under-65s
Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
Benefits for the over-65sAdvice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
- Carer's Assement
How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- 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