Help for carers
What is a carer?
A carer is someone who takes regular, on-going care of a family member or friend who needs help due to illness, age or disability. A carer can be anyone – of either sex, or any age - and is generally unpaid.
Lots of carers do not like the term; they see their role as a natural extension of the relationship they have with someone important to them. Some do not like to be labelled in this way and others don’t like to ask for help and so go unnoticed. For these reasons, a large number of carers are not identified as such, together with the fact that professionals often fail to recognise the role. In many countries, however, there is a growing awareness of the importance of carers in society, particularly as life expectancy rises, and so carers are deservedly gaining more recognition.
Many people become carers because they want to help a relative, friend or loved-one or perhaps there is no one else who can assume the role so they have little choice. For many it can be a very rewarding experience, but it can also be a hard life. Often the responsibilities and tasks involved are extensive and if finances are tight, or the carer feels isolated or has their own health problems, caring for another person can be difficult.
What help is available?
Assessing your needs
Considerable help may well be available, but when you are busy caring, it is not easy to find time to research and understand what help is at hand. This may seem like just another job on a long list, but it is important to find out about and take advantage of help that is out there, as this will make your role easier and more sustainable in the long term, and it will also benefit the person you care for too.
In many countries a formal assessment will be made of both your needs and those of the person you care for, so that the support each of you requires can be identified. If and how an assessment is made will depend on the country in which you live, but in general an assessment can lead to:
- recognition of your role as carer
- the provision of specialist equipment or modifications to your home to make everyday life easier
- help in the home with everyday tasks
- day care or respite care
- assistance with transport
- information about organisations and services that can support you
- social or leisure opportunities
- financial aid
Being assessed does not mean that the standard of care you provide is judged, so don’t be afraid to ask for an assessment. Talk to your doctor if you are not sure who you need to speak to in order to arrange this, or ask at your local social services or citizens’ advice bureau.
The multidisciplinary team
There are many professionals within the multidisciplinary team (MDT) who are there to support both you and the person you care for, and together they can help with maintaining independence and quality of life, as well as keeping you in good physical and mental health. They can refer you to appropriate support organisations and your doctor, social worker or others involved in looking after the person you care for may refer you to one or more of the following:
- occupational therapist (OT)
- physiotherapist
- dietician
- pharmacist
- podiatrist or chiropodist
Below are some suggestions which may be helpful in ensuring that you make the most of the help the team can provide:
- make sure your doctor and the surgery staff are aware that you are a carer and that this is highlighted on your file
- if the person you care for has difficulty waiting in the surgery or hospital for appointments, inform staff when you book; ask for an appointment that is most likely to have a short waiting time
- make sure the doctor knows that the person you care for agrees to you discussing their problems should you wish to
- write down questions you want to ask at the appointment, and take notes during the consultation to refer to later
- should you be worried about coping or angry about your situation, ask your doctor if you can be seen by a counsellor
- if collecting prescriptions is difficult, ask if they can be delivered to you or dispensed somewhere more convenient for you to collect
- plan carefully if the person you care for is to be discharged from hospital and discuss their needs and limitations in detail with the hospital staff prior to discharge.
Other support and advice organisations
There are many organisations and groups outside the MDT who can also provide practical help and advice on various aspects of caring, for example:
- government advice and information offices, for example on benefits and legal entitlements
- your local housing office
- counselling services
- carers, disability and mobility organisations
- voluntary organisations and services
- religious or charitable organisations and services
- private agencies (but always check the cost involved as charges can be high).
Your doctor’s surgery, local government office, library or local newspaper may have contact details for these, or you can look on the internet.
Complementary therapies for carers
There are many organisations and groups outside the MDT who can also provide practical help and advice on various aspects of caring, for example:
- government advice and information offices, for example on benefits and legal entitlements
- your local housing office
- counselling services
- carers, disability and mobility organisations
- voluntary organisations and services
- religious or charitable organisations and services
- private agencies (but always check the cost involved as charges can be high).
Your doctor’s surgery, local government office, library or local newspaper may have contact details for these, or you can look on the internet.
How do I tell if it’s working?
Be sure that you know how you hope to benefit from the treatment and ask your therapist for a treatment plan and cost estimates. Your practitioner will also explain what signs of progress to look out for. You can then monitor progress and decide if it is having any beneficial effects.
Whilst you shouldn’t continue with treatments indefinitely, waiting for something to happen, it may take time for any noticeable improvements to be seen. As such, you will need to weigh the benefits against the time and money spent. But remember, if one therapy does not work, another might, so it might be worth trying a few to see if you can find something that works for you personally.
