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Carers
A carer is someone who looks after a relative, partner,
neighbour or friend who needs support for reasons relating to age,
physical or learning disability or illness; or mental health
problems.
Unpaid carers often do not see themselves as carers. This is
because they use their familiar titles such as husband, wife,
partner, sibling son/daughter or friend.
Carers from minority ethnic groups and young carers are two
groups that tend to be hidden and are likely to remain so. Young
carers may be undertaking tasks that are inappropriate for their
age and this may adversely affect their school life and their
childhood experience.
As a consequence, particular attention was given to identifying
these carers and to ensuring that services would be responsive to
their needs through a separate strategy called A Multi-Agency
Strategy for Young Carers in Medway.
Professionals from health and social care services have a vital
role in helping to identify these hidden carers and provide them
with support and/or direct them to support services within the
community. Such services should be supported and developed by
statutory organisations, like the council and NHS Medway, working
in partnership with each other, other key partner agencies and with
the voluntary and private sector.
Parent carer
This is a parent of a child with a disability or illness.
Parents will often see themselves as parents rather than carers but
their child will have additional care needs and may be entitled to
additional services.
Young carer
This means a carer who is under the age of 18 years. The person
receiving care is often a parent but could be a brother or sister,
grandparent or other relative who needs support. There are more
than 50,000 young carers in the UK.
The care they provide may include:
- help with washing, bathing, going to the toilet, dressing or
feeding;
- assistance with getting about or lifting;
- giving support in a crisis or whenever it is needed;
- shopping, running errands or help with money;
- keeping an eye on someone to keep them safe.
Many services are directed towards the care of the person who
has a disability, is physically or mentally ill or frail. However,
if the person being cared for receives the right services then the
carer should benefit too. It is therefore all the more important
that carers make their views and needs clear.
The help available includes practical help at home, equipment,
day care, information and respite care which may be of specific
help to carers. with the appropriate colleagues.
Are you a carer?
If you care for a partner, relative, friend, or neighbour who
needs support for reasons relating to age, physical or learning
disability, or illness or mental health problems, and you are
unpaid, then you are a carer.
Carers aren’t just adults. Many carers are young carers, some as
young as five years old. Whatever your age, balancing caring with
work, school and other commitments caring can be a tough and lonely
job.
That’s why we want to make sure that if you are a carer you know
where to go to get information, advice and support about being a
carer in Medway. Many of these services are available to
anyone who is a carer regardless of their situation.
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