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Are you a carer?

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It is estimated that there are six million people in the UK who are caring unpaid for a friend or member of their family. Carers can be any age, supporting someone close to them who could not manage without their help. If you are one of these carers, the library holds some resources that you may find helpful. 

Let the library service come to you

Medway's libraries provide a home library service to residents who are unable to visit a library in person. If you have caring responsibilities that prevent you from leaving your home and no one can visit the library on your behalf, Medway Libraries' home library service may be able to help you. Please complete the Home Library eform and a member of staff will contact you.

Book listsPhoto of a book's pages

If a particular title you want is not available at your local library it can be reserved by visiting a library or through the online catalogue. Medway Libraries are part of a consortium of libraries in the south-east, so if you cannot find what you want in Medway it can be reserved from one of the other library authorities.

The book list is not comprehensive so please search the catalogue to find out what other titles we have in stock. If you would like to recommend titles or authors to us, please fill in a comments card or send an email. We can’t promise to buy all suggested titles but will give them consideration.

The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring

Six million people in the UK provide unpaid care for disabled or elderly relatives or neighbours. Oddly, though they are by definition anything but selfish, they are prone to feelings of guilt, brought on by isolation and fatigue. This book explores what carers and others should know about caring.

What Can I Do to Help?: 75 Practical Ideas for Family and Friends from Cancer's Frontline

Based on the advice of hundreds of cancer sufferers, this is a text for all of us who have ever felt helpless, tactless, inadequate - just when someone we love needs us most.

Caring for someone with cancer

This handbook provides carers with the knowledge and understanding required to look after a family member or friend with cancer, and includes information on relevant sources of help.

Being a Cancer Patient's Carer

Written for the non-professional, this guide offers advice on addressing the uncomfortable problems and decisions cancer patients and their caregivers must tackle both before but primarily after receiving treatment. The 42 chapters discuss appetite, constipation, depression, and other practical care concerns as well as the more psychological

Hello and how are you?

This guide is for people who are caring for someone with cancer, written by carers. It offers advice about how to handle practical matters, employment and work issues, relationships and life after caring.

Caring for someone with cancer - spoken word CD

Information for carers from Asian and Chinese communities, produced by the Afiya Trust, is available in Bengali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu.

Special collections

  • Books can help is a collection of titles dealing with the difficult emotions that everyone experiences at some point in their life. The collection includes titles about depression, anxiety, anger as well as positive self-help books.
  • The Macmillan collection is a collection of books and materials for people who are dealing with or looking after people who have been diagnosed with cancer

Reminiscence collection

The library holds several collections of illustrated, easy to read, sturdy books called pictures to share. The books help individuals with dementia, their families and carers enjoy activities and time together. More information about the series is available on their website pictures to share.

Online resourcescompuer mouse

eBooks and eAudiobooks

Medway Libraries offer eBooks and eAudiobooks, these can be downloaded at any time from the eBooks web page. Library card holders can now borrow and download digital media anytime, anywhere, free of charge. Details about the collections are available on the eBooks page.

Online reference

Medway libraries subscribes to several online resources, including encyclopedias. These are listed along with local information and much more on the library online resources page.   

For more information and advice:

  • Medway Carers Centre provides advice, information and support to family carers in the Medway area
  • If you are a Medway carer, I am a carer will provide you with information on a local carers’ helpline, claiming carers’ allowance and disabled facilities grants, and where to find support
  • Live it well offers local information and support for carers.
  • NHS Carers Direct provides information, advice and support for carers.
  • Medway crossroads provides respite care in Medway.
  • Directgov provides information by the UK government on caring for someone, including support services, rights and financial support.

 

For more information contact Medway Libraries by telephone: 01634 337799 or by email: chatham.library@medway.gov.uk

Write to: Medway Libraries, Chatham Library, Chatham Community Hub, Gun Wharf, Dock Road, Chatham, Kent ME4 4TR

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