CARERS SUPPORT

Are you a Carer?

Do you support someone who can’t manage on their own?

We want to ensure YOU get all the support YOU need

We are trying to identify as many Carers as we can, particularly those people who may be looking after a member of their family or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks, and don’t really regard themselves as a Carer and are undertaking this vital activity without help or support.

Although extremely valuable and important, Caring for someone can mean being in demand round the clock and lead to a feeling of isolation, which is why we want Carers to receive all the support and information we can give, on topics such as benefit entitlement, access to respite care or maybe simply to provide a kindly ear when things get too much.

If you are caring for someone, we really would like you to let us know, so that we can ensure our records are up-to-date and give you details to access relevant information and advice, local support services, newsletter and telephone linkline for carers. Please view our General points of contact information, including details for Lancashire Carers Service, Lancashire Young Carers Service and the Parent Carer Forum.

We will also give you details to let you know how to have your needs assessed by n-compass Lancashire Carers Service. This is called a Carers’ Needs Assessment. There is no charge for this, and it is your chance to discuss your role as a Carer and what help you may need to :

• Support you as a Carer
• Maintain your own health
• Balance caring with other aspects of your life, like work and family, looking at both your current and future needs.

It is NOT about judging the way you are caring for someone, nor will it be assumed that you wish to become, or carry on being, a Carer. As a result of completing the Assessment, the local authority may provide services to help you in your caring role or to maintain your own health and well-being. It can also look at the needs of the person you care for. This could be done separately, or together, depending on the situation.

If you are a Carer, please do spend a couple of minutes to complete a Carer's Identification form and then return it to the Practice via email to lscicb-fw.p81006@nhs.net

We look forward to hearing from you.