Who is a carer?
Carers are people who provide unpaid care for a family member, a friend or another person in need of assistance or support with daily living. They include those caring for older people, people living with long-term medical conditions, people with a mental illness, people with a disability and those receiving palliative care.
Carers can be adults caring for other adults or parents caring for children who are ill or have a disability. There are also young carers under 18 years caring for, or involved in the care of, a parent, sibling, relative or friend. The closeness of the caring relationship means care can include emotional support for the person.
Some carers do not call themselves carers but see themselves as wife or husband, mother or father, partner, grandparent, child, friend or neighbour. There can be multiple carers who care as part of a family or community network. At times, because of the nature of the illness, a carer may not be recognised as a carer by the person he or she is providing care to.
Caring for someone can be tiring and stressful. Carers can focus so much on the needs of the person they are caring for that they neglect their own health and wellbeing. If you are a carer, it is very important that you also look after yourself.
This page gives you information about the support that is available to you.
Local support
Our Community directory contains details for many local and national organisations providing support to carers. These include general carers' organisations and those related to specific conditions or disabilities.
Carers Together
Phone 01794 519495 Carers Active Listing Line 0800 323 456 (open 365 days a year, Mon - Fri 10.00am - 8.00pm & Sat - Sun 10.00am - 4.00pm)
admin@carerstogether.org.uk
Princess Royal Trust for Carers in HampshireOffer information, support, advice and emergency respite services for all carers in Hampshire.
Phone 01264 835246
info@carercentre.com
There are a number of Mental Health Carers Support Workers who can be contacted through your local Community Mental Health Team.
Good Neighbours Support Service
Voluntary groups which offer neighbourly help to people in their local communities.
Information for young carers (under 18).
National support
Carer UK provides a wealth of information and support including:
- an advice line - 0808 808 7777.
- an online forum which you can join to connect with other carers to share information support and advice
- An Upfront guide to caring- a simple tool for carers who are new to the maze of benefits and entitlements. Spend a couple of minutes answering questions and you will be guided to the information you need.
- a Looking after someone guide, which can be downloaded, is for anyone caring for family or friends. The guide outlines your rights as a carer and gives an overview of the practical and financial support available.
- Being heard - a self-advocacy guide to help you navigate a confusing system, get your message across and cope with complex thoughts and emotions when you are caring.
- Nutrition advice to help carers to eat well and to improve the nutritional intake of the person you care for.
National Careline – Phone 0800 0699 784 - for older people and their relatives who are needing advice.
Carers Trust is a national organisation of carers support services with a network of independently managed centres across the UK. The centres provide a range of services, including information and advice on benefits, care and access to services, advocacy, support and practical help for carers.
Registering with your GP
You can register your details with your doctor’s practice so that your notes are tagged to indicate that you are a carer or that the patient is a cared for person. It will help your GP if they are aware of your caring responsibilities and the potential impact of your caring responsibilities on your own health. The doctor’s receptionist can then also take account of your needs as a carer when trying to arrange appointment times that fit in with your caring responsibilities.
NHS advice
The NHS Carers Direct helpline service is designed to help you get the help and support you need as a carer. It offers all the information you should need to get the financial help you’re entitled to, as well as advice on getting a break from caring, going to work and much more. Phone 0300 123 1053.
Pain management help and advice.
End of life care - Information, advice and search for end of life care, including a search for local hospices.
Equipment
AskSARA and Living Made Easy websites offer a range of practical advice, ideas, products and adaptations which may help you as a carer.
Help from Hampshire County Council
If you are caring for an adult, you can ask for an assessment of their care needs from the council.
Carer’s assessments are also undertaken by the Adults' Health and Care department. These look not only at the support available from the Council but also from a range of private and voluntary organisations.
Information for young carers (under 18).
Further information
• See our section on Financial help for carers
• Find out about arranging a Powers of Attorney
• Information about work and career, including flexible working.
