If you without payment, provide help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour, who could not manage without your help, due to frailty, physical or mental illness, drug or alcohol addiction or disability then you are one of the thousands of unpaid carers in Bristol.
Anyone can become a carer; carers come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be of any age. Some young people will have been looking after someone at home while at school or college and still want/need to continue caring while getting on with full or part time further education
Many carers do not consider themselves to be a carer, they are just looking after their mother, father, grandparent, brother, sister, child or best friend, just getting on with it and doing what anyone else would in the same situation. Carers are often ‘juggling’ their caring responsibilities with paid employment or education.
Carers often don’t choose to become carers: it just happens and they have to get on with it – if they did not do it, who would and what would happen to the person they care for?
Why do carers need support?
• Many carers also work outside the home and are trying to juggle jobs and education with their responsibilities as carers.
• The majority of carers struggle along and do not know that help is available to them.
• Carers say that access to information; financial support and breaks in caring are vital in helping them manage the impact of caring on their lives.
• Many carers give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights to become a carer.
• For people take on a caring role it is important to have a life of their own outside of caring, to have access to help and support and to stay fit and healthy both physically and emotionally.
Carer Assessments
Carers have a right in law to an assessment of their needs from Social Services. The main areas this will look at for you are:
• Practical e.g. aids, adaptations & technology
• Financial e.g. full benefits checks, assistance to find other support funds
• Health e.g. back problems, joint pains, headaches, digestive problems
• Housing e.g. help with moving
• Social e.g. have become isolated
• Emotional e.g. struggling to cope with role, loss of previous relationship, stressed & overwhelmed, anger, guilt, fear
The telephone number for an assessment is 0117 922 2700 or email adult.care@bristol.gov.uk. There is also a self-assessment form for carers which can be completed on-line at www.bristol-city.gov.uk/carers
For independent advice or support with self assessment, you can contact the Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre: Tel 0117 965 2200, email:admin@carers-bs.org.uk. The Centre will also help carers complete the Carers Assessment form.
Hampton House Students’ Health Service
This practice would like to know if you are a carer so that we can offer you help and make sure you know about the services and support that are available to people who care. Please let your GP or reception know.
Organisations that can help support you:
• Bristol City Council Health and Social Care; Care Direct 0117 922 2700:
Website: www.bristol.gov.uk ; provides information, advice, carer assessments and helps to arrange services
• Black Carers Project; 0117 914 4492
Website: www.blackcarersproject.co.uk ; provides information, advice and services for carers from black and minority ethnic communities
• Bristol and Avon Chinese Women’s Group; 0117 935 1462;
Website: www.bacwg.co.uk ; provides support to Chinese carers
• Carers Direct; 0808 8020202;
Website: www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect ; a national information service for carers
• Crossroads Care Bristol North; 0117 983 9955:
Website: www.crossroads.org.uk/bristolnorth ; provides home based short break services for carers in North Bristol
• Crossroads Care Bristol South; 0117 353 3135:
Website: www.crossroads.org.uk/bristolsouth ; provides home based short break services for carers in South Bristol
• Dhek Bhal; 0117 955 6971:
Website: www.dhekbhal.org.uk ; provides support to Asian carers
• Kwads; 0117 9533870
Website: www.kwads.org.uk ; provides services to support people affected by someone else’s drug or alcohol use
• Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre; Carersline 0117 965 2200
Website: www.prtcarerscentre.org.uk ; provides information, advice and services for carers
• Princess Royal Trust Carers Centre Young Carers; 0117 939 2562
Website: www.bsgyc.org.uk ; provides information, advice, services and activities for young carers
• Rethink Carers Service; 0117 903 1803:
Website: www.rethink.org ; provides support services for carers of people with mental health issues