Health and social care > Carers >

Adult carers

You are a carer if you provide regular and substantial unpaid help to someone who is frail or disabled, or mentally or physically ill, and who cannot manage without your support. You may not live in the same house, and you do not have to be related to the person you look after.

The Carers Act (1995) gives carers rights in law and it is important that you are aware of these rights and how they can be used. It gives carers the right to request an assessment of their own abilities and needs when an assessment of the needs of the person they care for is being carried out. The assessment applies to both adults and children who are carers. Your Social Worker or Occupational Therapist will take the results of this assessment into account when deciding what services you may be entitled to receive.

Most people who look after relations or friends are happy to do so, but sometimes they need help and support to continue providing care. The information here aims to give carers an idea of the range of services available to them, and who to contact for further information; it is not a complete guide to services. Once you have made contact with any of the organisations or people listed here, they will give you a more detailed picture of the help available to suit your individual needs.

To give you a break from the caring role, a number of different schemes operate. Use the following details to find out more.

Visit the Respite Care webpage.

Home helps/home care workers can provide the person you look after with day-to-day personal care, e.g. bathing, dressing. The service is available, according to need, during the day or evening, seven days a week. Practical help with housework and shopping may also be available. Visit the Home Care webpage.

For short-term help at home, following discharge from hospital, the British Red Cross provide the Home from Hospital scheme. In different circumstances, the British Red Cross also offer short-term practical help to people faced with an unexpected crisis if, for example, a carer is taken ill. For further information about the schemes see their website www.redcross.org.uk

According to needs, arrangements can be made to deliver hot or frozen meals to the person you look after. Visit the Mobile Meals webpage.

Social Services can advise on equipment that can make daily living tasks easier to manage. They can also advise on home adaptations to enable people to continue living independently. If you are a carer, they can advise on how to lift or transfer a person properly. Social Services also have specialist Social Workers to advise people who have a sight or hearing loss. Visit the Equipment and Adaptions to the Home webpage.

The scheme provides help with household maintenance and repairs for people on a limited income, who lack the mobility/confidence to tackle them.

The system enables the person you look after to communicate with staff manning a Central Alarm System 24 hours a day. The system is available for a small charge, from the Council, and in some cases, financial help may be available. The service is available to people of any age. Visit the Out of Hours Support webpage.

Age Concern also run an Aid Call Scheme for older people.

At a small cost, Social Services can supply a 'Blue Badge'; to people who are registered blind or have limited mobility. This allows disabled people to park closer to their destinations, whether driver or passenger. Visit the Parking Permits webpage.