Carers

Are you a carer?

If you provide unpaid help or support to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour who could not manage without you, then you are a carer.

Recognising you are a carer can be the first step to getting the help and support you may need in your caring role. 

Firstly, we recommend to patients that are carers of any age to inform your GP as soon as possible. Support is available throughout the life course for carers from 5 years upwards.

Your GP practice will do their best to be flexible with appointment times to accommodate your caring situation. They can also provide health checks to make sure you are fit and healthy and not neglecting your own health because of your caring duties, which is sadly all too common. 

Whilst caring for a loved one can be rewarding, we also understand the many challenges that being a carer can bring. However, there is advice and support available so we recommend you register with your local Carers’ Centre, Carers Trust Hillingdon who is a national Network Partner of Carers Trust, an organisation that brings together carers services from across the UK.     

Carers Trust Hillingdon can offer: 

• High Street Advice Centre opposite Tesco in Uxbridge
• Expert Welfare Benefit advice and help to claim carer-related benefit entitlements. This service is also offered in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi
• Training for carers in some of the skills needed to care, but also for personal interests too. We know time for you is critical for your continued health and wellbeing
• Book clubs, hobby groups, painting and craft groups and IT support sessions
• Social opportunities, Carer Cafes across the borough and peer support groups
• 1:1 emotional support, counselling and psychotherapeutic support groups
• A programme of health and wellbeing activities including yoga, chair exercise, alternative therapies, mindfulness, regular Health MOT and Pamper days
• Specialist mental health and dementia support
• Help for young carers of all ages, including Clubs, school holiday activities, trips, weekends away, arts and sports activities and supported transition from school for 16 to 25 year old young adult carers
• Assistance in accessing care and support or referral to other services

Please note that all services offered by Carers Trust Hillingdon are free of charge

All you need to do to register is either pick up the phone and call the team on 01895 811206

Or for more information please visit https://carerstrusthillingdon.org where you can complete an online registration form if you prefer

NHS support

There is also wealth of information and support on the NHS Website for carers, see below for links into the NHS site that we hope you will find useful.

https://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx

Carer Support

• A guide to care and support – Information for carers and people who have care & support needs
• Support and benefits for carers – Caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care
• Taking a break – Caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care
• Work and Disability – Guidance, support and help with employment issues
• Being a Young carer – Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support

Finance and Law

• 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-65s – Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness
• Carer’s Assessment – 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

Helpline Information 

Another helpful contact is Carers Direct – 0808 802 0202

https://www.nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx

Email – CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk