Are you a carer?

If you are a carer it is important that you inform the surgery so we can up date our records.   

What is a carer?

A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. The care they give is unpaid.

When we refer to carers in this document, this is inclusive of both adult and young carers.

Why do carers need help?

Many carers don’t see themselves as carers and it takes them an average of two years to acknowledge their role as a carer.

It can be difficult for carers to see their caring role as separate from the relationship they have with the person for whom they care, whether that relationship is a parent, child, sibling, partner or a friend.

It’s likely that every one of us will have caring responsibilities at some time in our lives with the challenges faced by carers taking many forms. Many carers juggle their caring responsibilities with work, study, and other family commitments. Some, in particular younger carers, are not know to be carers. They don’t tell relatives, friends or health and care professionals about their responsibilities because of a fear of separation, guilt, pride or other reasons.

This means that the sort of roles and responsibilities that carers have to provide varies widely. they range from help with everyday tasks such as getting out of bed and personal care such as bathing, to emotional support such as helping someone cope with the symptoms of mental illness.

Having read the above document if you feel you are a carer please contact the surgery so we include this in your medical record. We sent you a carers pack and ask you register with the carers association so you can receive the help and support you require.

Derbyshire Carers Association – 01773 833833

Derby City Information for Carers – 01332 640000

Creative Carers – 01332 227711 – http://www.creative-carers.org/

Caring Safely at home Unpaid Carer resources to help people look after someone safely at home.

Universal Services for Carers in Derby City If you are aged 18+ and care for someone living in Derby City you can find out more about FREE training opportunities.