Adult carers
A carer is someone who provides unpaid help and support to a family member, friend, partner or neighbour who has a disability, illness, is frail or has drug or alcohol related problems.
You are also a carer if you:
- have a child who is disabled, ill or has special needs
- give support to someone who has mental-health difficulties
- care for someone who has a drug or alcohol addiction, or you are affected by someone else's addiction
- are a child looking after a member of your family
Many people do not see themselves as carers. They think of themselves as family members of friends. As a result they often don't realise that there is help and support available to them.
There may be caring situations where more than one carer provides support.
Carers may not be relatives or be living with the person they care for.
Leicester City Council, the City Primary Care Trusts and voluntary sector organisations recognise the concerns and anxiety of carers that are often caused by difficulties in finding the right sort of help.
Right care Right deal
A national campaign to build public awareness and support for the need for brave and innovative solutions for the social care system for older and disabled people, their families and carers. www.rightcare.org.uk
Help and support
We can provide or arrange a number of different services which may help people stay independent and help carers to continue in their caring role:
Falls remains the biggest cause of accidental death for older people. About one third of people aged over 65 years of age will fall each year. For more information, see the Falls Community Resource.
This Leicester City Falls Community Resource Directory has been compiled with details of service organisations in the Leicester City area to support people who have fallen or maybe at risk of falling.
- Alternative providers of care
- domiciliary care and personal assistance in people’s homes
- equipment and adaptations to people’s homes
- grants for carers
- lunch clubs
- mobile meals
- respite care
- shared care
There may be charges for some services, although information and advice is free.
Advocacy for carers
We always try to make people feel at ease about asking for help or support. If at any time, however, you require assistance to ask for help, then you could ask a representative to contact us on your behalf.
This representative - often referred to as an advocate - could be a friend or relative or someone from a voluntary organisation.
Related information
Useful links to other websites with information for carers
- Age Concern - the UK's largest charity working with and for older people
- CareFree - a Barnardo's project offering support to young carers in Leicester and Leicestershire
- Carers UK - organisation, led by carers, aiming to improve carer's lives
- CLASP - the Carers Centre, working with and supporting carers in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland
- DirectGov - central government website with lots of information for carers
- LAMP Direct - local community mental health site with information for carers
- NHS Direct Online - NHS wesbite
- The Princess Royal Trust for Carers - providing carers support services in the UK