Looking after a friend or family member who can no longer care for themselves is something many people do without question – gradually taking on more and more responsibilities over time. As such, people often fail to realise they’ve become ‘carers’ and can therefore miss out on some of the vital support and information that’s out there.
Today is Carers Rights Day and we’re urging people in the county who look after someone ‘to get in touch to get informed’. As a carer, getting the right information at the right time, can make all of the difference in the often complicated world of health and social care and the maze of benefits and entitlements.
Our free Advice Line 0808 808 9876 is open to carers from 10-4pm on weekdays and can help with practical support, money matters, legal matters (power of attorney, court of protection etc), navigating health and social care as well as tips for improving a carer’s health and wellbeing. Our Family Care Advisors can also provide a much needed listening ear.
We’ve also recently relaunched some of our services and we’re now offering specialised support packages to those family carers who would like more help to balance their caring role with the rest of their life. We’re expanding our face-to-face counselling programme too which is based in Norwich and designed specifically for carers. All our counsellors are on the Register of the British Association of Counsellors and Psychotherapists.
We also feels strongly that supporting carers at work makes business sense and we’re approaching local companies who would like to support existing and future carers in the workplace – whether that’s with 1-1 support for staff members who look after a relative, training sessions for employees or access to the Norfolk Family Carers counselling team.
Approximately 1 in 9 people combine work and care and that figure is set to rise. Many are forced to reduce their hours or give up work altogether (Carers UK). We’re urging companies who are interested to get in touch on 01603 219924.
