Do you look after someone?Carers
last updated 13.02.12
Hidden Carers and Resources available
Derbyshire Carers Break Scheme
“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.”
People who care for others on a regular basis are providing an invaluable service for the person they care for but they also save taxpayers a huge amount of money each year – estimated to be £87 Billion. There are probably around 112,000 carers in Derbyshire alone. Yet the people who do this work often go unnoticed by the rest of us and even unappreciated by the person they care for, especially if that person is suffering from dementia.
See also the Faith in Derbyshire case study Case Study 3: Informal Care
Hidden carers
Many carers are hidden; they see what they are doing as simply part of being family and don’t talk about it outside. Yet there is help available which can reduce the strain on them and remove some of the worry. What would happen if they became ill and could not cope or were taken into hospital and would not even be there? There are schemes available to help out with just such issues, for example carers can carry an emergency card so that if something does happen to them the emergency services will be alerted to the needs of the person being cared for.
Children are often among the hidden carers. Young carers who care for parents or siblings are often in great need, trying to keep up with school (or just giving up) while doing huge amounts of work in the home. They are often in fear that they will be taken into care if they are found out.
There’s help out there …
There are a range of resources which can be accessed through the web to help carers. Many actually have human beings behind them so that there can be real confidential and practical help!
The NHS provide resources and advice including a directory of local services based on your post code, see www.nhs.uk/Carersdirect
Derbyshire County Council has services and resources to support carers; they provide the emergency card described above and a huge amount of other practical help and advice. There is also a whole section on DCC’s website that can be accessed through www.derbyshire.gov.uk/Social_health/adult_care_and_wellbeing/caring_for_someone/default.asp. It includes a directory with a wide range of other organisations which can offer specialist or local support.
Similarly, Derby City Council has resources at http://www.derby.gov.uk/community-and-living/support-groups/carer-support-groups-and-organisations/
Derbyshire Carers provide information, individual support, telephone support, advocacy support, local support groups and a 24/7 crisis support helpline 01332 364444 (this is operate by the Samaritans). They can be found at http://www.derbyshirecarers.co.uk/
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is a national charity which promotes and campaigns for the needs of carers http://www.carers.org/
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Derbyshire Carers Breaks Scheme
This Scheme provides a variety of events to help carers take a break from their everyday caring responsibilities. The events are organised offering carers the opportunity to learn new skills, make new friends and develop and explore different ideas and experiences to contribute to their general health and well-being.
All activities are FREE and are available to Carers who:
* live in Derbyshire County
* are registered with a GP within Derbyshire County NHS
* care for more than 14 hours per week ,or the caring role has a significant impact on the carers own health and well-being.
For further details click here.
Carers Voice
Carers Voice is a new project that will give Carers the opportunity to speak out about the things that affect them and to share their experiences. Carers will also have an input to the discussions of future services and the development of existing ones. Carers will also have the chance to ask questions that will be put to the network group.
Carers support services in Derbyshire are really eager to hear from Carers who use their services and would like to know directly how they can improve these services
In January 2012 they will start holding area meetings to discuss issues that will be on the agenda at the next Carers Network Meeting.
These meetings will be every three months and every quarter a representative from each group will attend the Carers Network Meeting to feedback information.
Becoming a Carers Voice member will be exciting and rewarding. Members will be representing Carers from their area and will be making a real difference to the lives of Carers in Derbyshire.
By becoming a member Carers will be agreeing to come along to the meetings in their area and to follow the Associations Policies and Procedures including the Confidentiality Policy. Details of these will be covered at the Induction Meeting in January.
Together Carers will be really influential in supporting and developing Carers Services in Derbyshire.
If you are a Carer and would like more information on becoming a Carers Voice Member please call Helen Weston on 01629 812132 or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
 Breaks for carers | 806 Kb |
