Who is a carer?
A carer is a person of any age (including children) who provides unpaid support to a partner, relative, friend or neighbour who couldn’t get by without their help. This could be due to old age, frailty, disability, a serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse. Parents of children who are disabled or who have a serious health condition are also considered to be carers.
It is estimated that 10% of patients are carers.
Improving carer identification
As a practice, we want to increase the number of people on our carers’ register so that we can look after you better. We do this by:
- Asking patients with long-term conditions to name their carers
- Running awareness-raising campaigns to get carers to tell us about their caring responsibilities
Tasburgh Lodge Surgery Carers Support
Don’t Be Hidden…..
More than one in ten patients on any GP Practice list is a carer. Staff at Tasburgh Lodge are interested in identifying carers, especially those people who may be caring without help or support. We know that carers are often ‘hidden’, looking after a family member or helping a friend or neighbour with day to day tasks and they may not see themselves as a carer.
Caring for someone is an important and valuable role within our community; it is often a 24 hour job that can be very demanding and isolating. We believe that carers should receive appropriate support by way of access and accurate information of a range of topics such as entitlement to benefits and respite care and by no means least a listening ear when things get tough.
As a carer you are also entitled to have your needs assessed by Adult Services. A Carers Assessment is your chance to talk about your needs as a carer and explore the ways that help can be provided. It will also address any needs of the person that you are caring for.
There is no charge for this assessment.
Pop in to the surgery for you free Carer’s Pack and Identification Form.
‘A carer is a person of any age, adult or child, who provides unpaid support to a partner, child, relative or friend who couldn’t mange to live independently or whose health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help. This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse.’ Supporting Carers Action Guide: 2011
What we offer to improve healthcare for carers
- Flu vaccination – most carers are eligible for a free flu vaccination to protect themselves and the person they care for
- Regular health check appointments to help you keep fit and well
- More flexible appointments
- Carer support groups
- Referrals to carers’ services for more specialised information, advice and support
Lincolnshire Carers Service
Carers FIRST delivers the Lincolnshire Carers Service in partnership with the Lincolnshire County Council’s Customer Service Centre. Together we provide a wide range of services to carers across the county.
Dedicated services for carers
If you care for someone and would like additional support then the following information may help.
Speak to other carers online
There are many people who care for others sharing their stories and offering support online. You don’t have to join in conversations, but it might help to see what’s being said.
