Image kindly provided by Richard Adams

Help and Support
with caring

Caring for someone can be demanding and difficult. But there may be more help available than you realise.

There are lots of possible sources of help, but which ones are right for you?

Time for yourself helps you relax but if you don’t have the opportunity for a swim, an evening class or for developing friendships, take ten minutes to have a cup of tea or read a magazine. Or take twenty minutes for a walk in the fresh air.

Your local library, town, village, church and parish notice boards can provide information about varied social activities, events, education and courses. Find out about the emotional, practical and financial support available to you.

See also village/parish magazines, local news and radio for local social groups, drop ins and café chats, allotments, art, choirs and music, walking groups, chess and puzzle clubs, movement and dance groups, badminton, bowls and other social activities that interest you.

A carer’s assessment is a conversation between yourself and a professional from the council. You will discuss the impact of your caring role on your own wellbeing and identify any support needs you have. They will then help you to identify the services and support options that are right for you and the person you care for. You can request a carers assessment from the carers team at the council online via Rutland County Council Carers assessment or by contacting the Duty Team: Tel: 01572 758341 Email: carersteam@rutland.gov.uk

Social prescribing, sometimes referred to as community referral, is a means of enabling GPs, nurses and other primary care professionals to refer people to a range of local, non-clinical services.

Rutland social prescribing network https://www.socialprescribingnetwork.com

Some questions and answers...

I am caring for someone. What support and help is there for me?

Rutland Health Primary Care Network

https://rutlandhealth.co.uk/supporting-carers/

Download a new Supporting Carers leaflet, funded by a Better Care Fund grant. It provides advice for carers on how to get support in their role as well as contact numbers and tips from local carers.

RIS Service

Rutland Information Service

Alexandra Chamberlain Senior Care Manager,

Rutland County Council, Catmose, Oakham, Rutland LE15 6HP

Tel: 01572 758433 / 07814144647

Email: Achamberlain@rutland.gov.uk

Website: www.rutland.gov.uk

Rutland County Council

Carers

I have recently become a carer, where can I find general advice and help?

If you look after a partner, relative or friend who is disabled or ill due to physical or mental ill health, you are a carer.

Rutland Health Primary Care Network

https://rutlandhealth.co.uk/supporting-carers/

Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland

13 High Street East

Uppingham

LE15 9PY

Penny Stimpson: 01572 822 171

Yvonne Rawlings: 01572 823 942

Age UK Telephone Helpline, Tel: 0800 678 1602.

Offering support through a free advice line, open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year.

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/leics

Carers UK

Making life better for carers

https://www.carersuk.org

https://www.carersuk.org/upfront/

https://carers.org/about-caring/about-caring

Rutland County Council

For adults over 18 years old who provide unpaid support to someone who could not manage on their own due to illness, disability or a mental health issue.

The Carers Centre

Offers a range of free services including advocacy, information and support for carers in Leicestershire and Rutland

Tel: 0116 251 0999

email: enquiries@thecarerscentre.org.uk

Unit 19, 4th Floor Matrix House, Constitution Hill,

Leicester LE1 1PL

Admiral Nurse Service

Admiral Nurses are specialist dementia nurses who give practical and emotional support to family carers, as well as the person with dementia. They provide emotional and psychological support to help you carry on your caring role, including 4 week carer training workshops.

Angela Moore Admiral Nurse Clinical Lead 01572 758341 or 01572 758220

E-mail amoore@rutland.gov.uk

Is there any funding available for me as a carer ?

Carers UK

https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/financial-support

Carer's Allowance

http://www.gov.uk/carers-allowance/eligibility

This is the main state benefit for carers.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with the person you care for to be eligible if the person you care for has certain benefits.

Carer’s credit

http://gov.uk/carers-credit

Carer’s Credit is a National Insurance credit that helps with gaps in your National Insurance record. Your State Pension is based on your National Insurance record.

NHS support and benefits for carers

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support-guide/support-and-benefits-for-carers/

Is any help available when caring for someone with a specific condition?

Caring for someone with dementia

https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support/publications-factsheets/caring-person-dementia-practical-guide

Dementia Support Service for Rutland

Carer Information and Support Programme

Office 0116 231 1111

National Dementia Helpline – 0845 3000 336

Caring for someone with a heart condition

https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/support/emotional-support-and-wellbeing

Caring for someone with Parkinsons Disease

https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/information-and-support/caring-someone-parkinsons

Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland

13 High Street East

Uppingham

LE15 9PY

Dementia Support: Yvonne Rawlings: 01572 823 942

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/leics/our-services/living-with-dementia/rutland-dementia-support-group/

I ‘m under 18 and I help my Dad every day to wash, dress and feed himself. Is there anyone else like me? Are there any organisations that will support me?

A young carer is someone under 18 who helps look after a family member such as a parent, brother, sister or other relative or they might care for a family friend who is disabled, has a mental health condition or misuses alcohol or drugs. The person may live in the same house as the young carer or somewhere else.

It is can be very helpful to talk about your caring responsibilities with an adult and/or friend who you trust. Talking about the challenges you face with another can give you encouragement and may help you make good decisions.

It is important that a teacher you trust knows too. They can help you plan your school and home work.

Rutland County Council Young Carers

https://www.rutland.gov.uk/my-services/health-and-family/early-help/young-carers/

You can get a young carer's assessment if you're 18 years old or younger though Rutland's Referral Assessment and Intervention Service. To ask for an assessment phone the team on 01572 758493.

Rutland Information service

If you are a young carer who lives or goes to school in Rutland, then you can get support from Rutland County Council. Little Stars, Young Stars and TOFU are monthly groups specifically run to support Young Carers.

I am caring for a loved one. Are there any small groups we can attend together?

Continuing wellbeing mentally and spiritually, physically and socially is important. Caring for someone can be comforting and rewarding for both parties, but sometimes it can be isolating, frustrating and tiring too. It is important that you have opportunities to go out, to take part in something you enjoy and to meet others for conversations and activities.

Rutland Community Hub and Voluntary Action Rutland

https://www.varutland.org.uk/centre-activities

Main Reception Office: 01572 722 622 (office open 9am-1pm)

Transport Office: 01572 724 705 (office open 9am-12pm)

Rutland Reminders

Volunteer run informal singing group and chat for people with dementia and their carers.

10.30 am, third Tuesday of each month.

Brambles Social Centre, Rutland Care Village, Huntsmans Drive, Oakham LE15 6RP

Tel: 07779 413889 email: info@rutlandreminders.org.uk

Oakham Lunch Club

Luncheon club held on second and fourth Tuesday of every month 12.30pm – 2pm

No need to book, just turn up - £8.50 per person.

Tel: 01572 490 784, The Wheatsheaf, Northgate, Oakham LE15 6QS

Men in Sheds Age UK

Men are welcome to share tools and skills and work on projects they choose.

Twice weekly Wednesday 11.00am – 4pm, Friday 10am – 12 noon

Rutland County Museum, Catmos St, Oakham, LE15 6HW

Tel: 07540 413 805 email: brian.lee@ageukleics.org.uk

Dementia Support Service - Peer Support and Activity Group

We are a social group for people with dementia and their carers.

Come along and have a drink and a chat, share your skills and experience and meet with people in a similar situation to your own in a warm, friendly and supportive atmosphere.
Meeting 4th Wednesday of each month 10.30am – 12.00 noon
Rutland Hub, Lands’ End Way, Oakham LE15 6RB
Contact: Sarah Ball 01572 824048 or 07739 630661

Arts 4 Dementia

https://arts4dementia.org.uk

A national organisation providing arts programmes that empower and inspire people with early stage dementia and their carers, through artistic stimulation

Acorn Day Centre (Age UK)

https://www.ageuk.org.uk/.../leics

Offering companionship and support for independent living

Tuesdays 10.00am to 3.00pm

Contact Name Samantha Carnall

Telephone 0116 299 2269 E-mail careservices@ageukleics.org.uk

The Lodge, Stamford Road, Oakham Rutland LE15 6JX

Sports and exercise

Oakham Catmose Sports Centre SLL with pool –

www.sll.co.uk

Can Respite Care Provision give me a break from caring?

Respite care is the term used for different services designed to give you a break from caring. Someone to come to your home to look after the person you care for on a regular basis while you go to an activity, shop or visit a friend, or someone to take them out to an activity group or day centre.

Or you may need an opportunity to go on holiday, with or without the person you care for. If you're going away without the person you care for, they may have a temporary stay in a residential care.

Carers Sitters Service

Covering Stamford, Bourne, Deepings and the PE9 villages of Rutland and East Northamptonshire, this free service offers carers a break from caring by providing trained sitters.

41 North Street, Bourne, Lincolnshire. PE10 9AE

Telephone: 01778 420 257 email:

Office Hours: Tuesday and Thursday 09.30am – 1.00pm