Our first meeting was held Saturday 11th July 2009 and led by Sheila Stephen an accredited counsellor.
DEFINITION OF A CARER
You are a carer if you provide someone in your family or outside your family with a significant amount of care on a regular basis in order that they are able to conduct their normal everyday living.
This includes children looking after elderly or disabled parents or parents or guardians of children with special needs.
If you think you qualify as a carer you will be required to complete a Carers Assessment form. Please feel free to contact us if you need assistance completing one of these forms. The wording used can make a big difference to whether you are acknowledged as a carer or not.
Carers often reduce their hours of work or take early retirement in order to facilitate their caring role. Therefore they need to top up this income.
If you are a carer make sure this is added to your medical notes as there are a few special consessions offered to carers. For instance in some areas aqua therapy is offered free of charge to all local carers.
FACTS & FIGURES
You’re not alone - did you know 1 in 10 people in the UK are carers.(Approximately 6 million people). It is estimated that this figure will rise to 13 million in the UK by 2018.
175,000 are carers
65% of carers have poor health themselves. 58% of carers are women.
1.2 million carers care for over 50 hours a week.
WHAT HELP IS AVAILABLE?
To find out if you are entitled to any benefits look on the following website. www.entitledto.co.uk
The SAGA website www.saga.co.uk/health/carers has lots of hot tips for carers. They also have a respite for carers trust offering holidays for carers.
The Princes Royal Trust Bridgend Carers Centre will offer practical help and advice. www.carers.org/local/wales/bridgend/
Bridgend County Crossroads offers short respite breaks for carers as well as group gatherings forum and coffee mornings.
Carers Wales offers a regular newsletter with plenty of up to date information and advice, plus leaflets on subjects such as; Financial Help / New to Caring (the first 10 steps to getting support) / Your Guide to a Carer’s Assessment. www.carerswales.org
Local self help groups are often your best local experts. A few hours spent at a coffee morning can often provide you with far more information than weeks spent contacting governing bodies. So why not join us at our next meeting.
Your doctor will have leaflets on the self help groups in your local area.
Many entertainement and leisure activities such as theatres and cinemas will provide a special disabled card offering discounts for both the disabled and carer alike.
Welsh water and Swalec both offer a reduced tarrif for vulnerable adults.
Most transport services offer reduced price fares.
Contact Motorbility you may be entitled to free or cheap motoring.
Some taxi companies are able to provide a vehicle capable of carrying a wheelchair.
There are grants available to those who take someone into their home to care for them but then need to make structural alterations or even build an extension to their home.
Care and Repair are a group available to do small jobs around the house.
Most local authorities will hold a Tradesmen list of those local tradesmen they have approved to work with the vulnerable.
Equipment such as Lifeline and Keysafe can be extremely useful items. Lifeline is worn at all times by the vulnerable person and can be pressed in an emergency to call for help. Keyline is a small safe attached to an outside wall which contains the vulnerable persons front door key, which may be unlocked by a code known by the carer.
