Are You a Carer?

If you are please let us know - we may be able to help you

The practice was awarded the Bronze level award for the Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan GP Carer Accrediation Scheme in July 2016, in recognition of our work in supporting informal carers.  We are currently working towards the silver level. 

Advice and Support for Carers

You can download Looking After Someone for free from our website: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/looking-after-someone

Definition of ‘carer’
A carer is someone who looks after and supports a friend, relative or neighbor who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness or disability.
It does not mean a professional care-worker or personal assistant who gets paid for their work.

Financial support for carers and those you care for
If you care for someone, there is a range of financial benefits available to you and also to the person you care for. Do not be afraid to ask for help and claim what you are entitled to.

Carer's assessments
If you provide care for someone aged 18 or over, your local social services should carry out an assessment to see if you are entitled to any services that could make caring easier for you. A carer's assessment is about your needs as a carer.

Example of help available
1. Help with household tasks
2. Help with caring tasks during the day and night
3. Respite care
4. Activities for the ‘cared-for’ person
5. Benefits advice
6. Contact details for Chiropodist, Community Dentist, Health Visitor or Optician

There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. 

Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

• Telling people

• Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you're a carer is important so they understand and can support you.

• Taking a break

  Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it's essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.

• Housing and carers

  Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?

Carer Support
Support Organisations/Local Services Available

Details of support and events available in Cardiff & Vale.  'Cardiff Council, Alzheimer's Society, Cardiff & Vale Health Board and Marie Curie working together to make Cardiff a Dementia Friendly City'.

Hafal

Hafal is an orgnisation that supports people with serious mental health illness and their carers.  To learn more take a look at their leaflet which outlines the service available in Cardiff http://www.hafal.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/Cardiff_EngA.pdf 

Younger Carers Support - YMCA

The YMCA site offers guidance for young carers.  Young carers can apply for an ID card which helps professionals including doctors, teachers and pharmacists to recognise them and support them appropriately.

House of Memories

House of Memories is a museum led dementia awareness programme which offers training, access to resources, and museum based activities to enable carers to provide person centred care for people living with dementia.  There's also a My House of Memories App dowloadable from this site (bottom of the home page) which allows you to explore objects from the past and share memories together.

Contact a Family provides support, advice and information for families with disabled children, no matter what their condition or disability.

DEWIS CYMRU

If you have concerns about your well-being, please visit the Dewis Cymru website where you can find local and national organisations and services to help you.  The website has a simple search engine, you type in what you're looking for and your postcode, and the site will populate services available to you within 5 miles of your address.

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 person you care for

  Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to

• Death and benefits

  How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits

• Personal and household finance

  Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers

• Social fund

  Other financial help 

• Tax credits

  Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible

More Useful Contacts:

District Nurses – 02920444501

Macmillan Nurse – Please discuss with GP or Practice Nurse

Cardiff City County Council – Social Services
Telephone: 029 20536444 - Website: http://www.cardiff.gov.uk (external link)

Direct Gov
Carers Allowance Tel: 01253 85 61 23 - Website: www.direct.gov.uk/en/CaringForSomeone (external link)

Carer’s UK
Telephone: 0808 808 7777 - Website: www.carersuk.org (external link)

The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
Telephone: 02920 221788 - Websites: www.carers.org (external link) or www.youngcarers.net (external link)

Carer’s Direct (by NHS Choices)
Telephone: 0808 802 0202 - Website: www.nhs.uk/carersdirect (external link)

Alzheimers Society
Telephone: 020 7423 3500 – Website: www.alzheimers.org.uk (external link)

Age Concern Cymru
Telephone: 029 20431555 – Website: www.accymru.org.uk (external link)

Deafblind - Deafblind Useful Contacts

St Isan Road Surgery cannot take responsibility for pages maintained by external providers.

Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Stroke Recovery Service