Help and advice for carers who look after a relative, friend or neighbour but are not employed to provide care.
Carers
A carer is somebody who helps look after someone who is sick, disabled or elderly. This could be a relative, neighbour or friend. You may not be the only person who helps care for them. However, if you offer support, whether that’s for a few hours a week or every day, and are not paid to provide care, then you are a carer.
Support we can provide to you as a carer
We can provide a range of support, including:
an explanation of your rights as a carer
a carer assessment which looks at your caring role and what support you may need
a personal budget in the form of a carer's support grant
advice with looking after your health as a carer
our supported employment service if you need help to continue working and caring - the service can also provide support with accessing training and employment
the carer's emergency card - this identifies you as a carer if you have an accident or are unable to identify yourself, so that the person you care for will receive emergency support
information about respite care so that carers are able to have a break from caring
our AskSARA online self-assessment tool provides advice and solutions to make daily living activities within the home easier for your relative / friend
Contact us for help with being a carer
If you feel you need to speak to someone, our customer services team can help you decide what help you may need and who to contact. They can put you in touch with a carers' centre, other organisations or our social care team, who can all provide information, advice and other services to support you.
There are many organisations in North Yorkshire that support carers by providing practical and emotional support. For more details, see our carer support organisations page.
How caring can affect your health and how you can look after yourself
Caring can make great demands on your time, your health and your emotions and can be very exhausting.
Common carer problems
Sometimes, because carers are so busy caring for someone else, they don't always notice that their own health is getting worse. Some common problems are:
back strain, if the carer is moving and transferring someone
emotional stress and anxiety
sleep problems
existing conditions, such as high blood pressure could be made worse
How to look after your own health
You can do several things to look after your own health, including:
making sure your GP knows you are a carer and that this is recorded on your patient record
trying to make time for yourself to exercise regularly
trying not to skip meals and eating a balanced diet
getting in touch with your local carers' centre or carers' resource, who often provide relaxation or pampering sessions
If you ever feel under extreme pressure please contact your GP, our customer services centre or your local carers' centre and let them know you need help straight away.
You may also find the information on our mental health pages useful if you are having difficulties dealing with the emotional side of caring.
Rights you have as a carer
As a carer you have rights under The Care Act 2014 which:
Give you formal recognition in the needs assessment of the person you care for.
Require us to give you information and advice about your rights as a carer.
Require us to carry out a separate assessment of your needs – this is called a carers’ assessment.
Require us to consider your assessment when deciding what services the person you care for needs. For example, if you are in poor health or are having difficulties caring for someone, we must take this into account. We must also take account of your wish to remain or gain access to employment and training; emotional support required; carers' registers and health checks by your GP; and increased choice and control.
