Help For Carers
SERVICES PROVIDED BY
SOUTH LAKELAND CARERS
In the year to 31st March 2009 we received 251 new referrals and completed 267 new assessments, reviews and reassessments of need. Of these 179 carers were not known to us previously.
From Jan 2009 we started providing Contingency Plans for Carers and have completed 21 as at the end of March.
117 carers have received a service or have been able to take a break away of some sort from their caring duties. In total we have delivered 1162 services and breaks for carers, equating to approximately 10 services/breaks per carer.
These services/breaks could include attending one of our support groups or drop in centre, getting some relaxation therapy or going on a social outing. Other services we provide include one to one emotional support, counselling and sitting with the person they care for.
All our support workers provide a listening ear to carers at times of need either on the phone or face to face. For more complex cases the Support Workers can refer carers to our counselling service, which has 3 qualified counsellors and 1 counsellor in training. This can help the carer over a crisis point in their lives and enable them to continue their caring role. At the end of March 2009 26 carers had received 169 counselling sessions.
Relaxation Therapy Treatments run four days a month using two therapists, giving full treatments to six carers each day. As at 31st March 2009, 51 carers have received 161 treatments.
The Sitting Service we run enables the carers to take a short break (up to 3 hours) with the peace of mind that one of our staff or volunteers is on hand in an emergency.
This is not a full personal care service and is designed to bridge the gap between nothing and the full service offered by the care agencies, which can be very expensive and inflexible. This year 27 carers have received 92 sitting sessions.
We run monthly support groups in Kendal, Sedbergh, Grange, and Arnside/Milnthorpe, as well as a Drop-In Centre 1 day a week in Kendal.
The drop in has seen 48 carers visit us a total of 151 times. The groups provide an important social outlet for the carers. We organise these groups, including the venue, transport, speakers and activities.
Throughout the year we provide trips and outings for the carers.
Our Quarterly Newsletter
Primarily this goes to the carers but is also distributed to various outlets throughout South Lakeland to raise awareness of carers including GP surgeries and other Voluntary Sector organisations. It is circulated to all carers registered with us.
The newsletter gives a mix of information and articles including updates on relevant issues such as benefits and Hospital/Community health services, new information relevant to carers, details of forthcoming social activities and reviews of the previous events.
WELFARE RIGHTS
Carers Centre is an online resource for unpaid family carers offering useful information and advice about benefit entitlement and financial issues. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is being funded by Abbey (part of the Santander group) to give easily accessed information on benefits for carers. For further information contact them at
FREEPHONE 0800 161 38 39 or
Also, CARERS DIRECT is a practical and comprehensive information, advice and support service for carers. For
information, advice and support for carers,
contact them on
FREEPHONE 0808 802 02 02 (7 days a week)
Advice and help with key care and support issues
By Gill Coombs (advice service manager)
Sharing and caring
From enquiries to our advice line we are aware that many older people are now living alone, often at long distances from their families and with friends who themselves are elderly and frail. With the demise of home help and shopping services many older people are finding that there is limited support available when they start to feel that a “little bit of help around the home” would be beneficial to them. Some support may be available from local voluntary services, but due to the lack of resources could be sporadic, time limited, and oversubscribed.
To pay privately for a carer to help with these tasks could be an expensive choice, and may not allow the time or consistency for a socially supportive relationship to be established.
However, Homeshare may be an option which would be beneficial for an older person living alone, with room to offer rent free in return for some practical help and the reassurance of having someone in the house with you overnight.
Homeshare schemes operate by arranging for an older person to share their home rent free with a person who needs accommodation in exchange for an agreed level of help. The arrangement is supported by a Homeshare Co-ordinator who is responsible for making sure that the situation works for both parties.
Details of a new scheme being established in Cumbria can be gained by contacting NAAPS on 0151 227 3499, www.naaps.co.uk or visit Homeshare International’s website at www.homeshare.org.