Information for Carers

Do you help look after someone who could not manage without you?

You May be a Carer

If you provide help and support to a partner, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without your help due to physical or mental illness, disability, frailty or addiction. There are thousands of unpaid carers in Bristol.

Anyone can become a carer – children, parents, siblings, spouses, partners, friends and neighbours. Many people don’t think of themselves as carers; they just look after someone close to them. Caring often just happens to you, as you find that someone close to you gradually needs more help. You may be a carer only for a short time, but it’s important to get the help you need.

information for carers

Support forYou

Becoming a carer can feel isolating and it’s often a struggle to get the information you need.

The Carers’ Support Centre is a local organisation that can provide you with information and advice on any aspect of caring and services that might be useful, such as the Carers Emergency Card. They can put you in touch with other organisations that offer specialist support, for example about dementia, mental health problems or recovering from a stroke. The Carers’ Support Centre can also advise on any financial help you or the person you look after may be entitled to. There are also carers’ groups that meet regularly to share practical ideas and friendship.

Call the CarersLine 0117 965 2200 for more details

When you are looking after someone, it’s important to have some help and support for yourself, such as a break from caring. Your local Council will be able to tell you how they can help and explain about Carers Assessments. These are available to carers in Bristol who find caring affects their health and wellbeing but are not currently in receiving social carer services. Assessments can connect carers to the support they need and result in a one-off payment to help them take a break from caring.

Call 0117 965 2200 for more details

Young Carers

If you're under 18 years old and look after another person at home, you may be a young carer.

You might find you can’t go out with your friends or have problems at school or college because of your responsibilities at home. You might feel alone and unable to talk to anyone about your situation, or be confused or angry about the situation at home. You might need help with the caring.

Your local Council can offer support, including someone to talk to, both one to one and in groups, youth clubs, a link worker in school, mentoring and counseling, carer’s training in subjects like lifting, medication and food hygiene and breaks for you from caring. They can also explain about a Carers Assessment, which is also available for carers under 18 years old.

Call 0117 965 2200 for more details

Your Own Health

As a carer, it is important that you look after your own health; it may not be easy not to look after yourself when you are looking after someone else. Here at The Family Practice we want to be able to do all we can to try to help you stay as healthy as possible.

We will do our best to help you look after yourself as well as the person you care for. For example, we offer ‘flu vaccination to carers each autumn and we keep a register of carers who are our patients so that we can let you know about any new services or support that becomes available.

Please register yourself as a carer at reception or discuss it with your GP.