When you become a carer or your caring situation changes, you may find that your life changes in all sorts of ways. It could affect your work, social and home life and finances.
What are my rights as a carer?
The most important right you have as a carer is to be listened to and to have your views taken into account. This means:
- you should be involved in planning the services that could be provided for the person you care for; and
- you should be asked if you are able and willing to provide care for that person.
If you are providing substantial care you are entitled to a carers assessment. You are entitled to the same assessment if you are a young carer.
Carer assessment
The carer assessment will look at:
- how the caring role affects your life
- what support you need as a carer.
Ask the hospital social worker or contact your local social work office for further details.
What practical help is there for me?
Carers organisations
There are various organisations which can offer:
- information
- support
- contact with other carers.
They can also direct you to relevant training courses which cover different issues around caring.
Advocacy
Being heard and having your views taken into account is your most important right as a carer. But getting your thoughts together and communicating them clearly can sometimes be difficult. This is particularly the case at times when you are facing lots of change, both practically and emotionally, in your life.
Advocacy can support you to:
- think through what you want and need to know
- find out who you should be talking to and how to contact them
- say what you think and feel, by supporting you to speak up for yourself.
Further information is available at your local carers organisation or local social work office.
Getting a break
Breaks from caring are often referred to as respite. They may last a few hours, a few days or even a few weeks. Some of the different ways you can receive a break from caring are described below:
- Home based services involve someone coming out to your home to support the person you care for while you are out.
- Day care services may be available at day centres or day hospitals depending on a persons illness or disability.
- Residential care can take the form of the person you care for going into a care home while you have a longer break.
Other types of breaks can be organised through your local social work office. As with the other services mentioned on these pages there may be costs involved in using respite services.
What If I Need Someone To Talk To?
As well as practical support you may find that you need to be able to talk to someone about how you feel. Support is available from your local carers organisation.