Celebrating Carers Week! 10th - 17th June 2024
Welcome to Carers Week 2024!
This week, from June 10th to 17th, we celebrate and honour the incredible dedication and selfless acts of carers, both unpaid family carers and our amazing volunteers. Throughout the week, we will share stories, resources, and tips to support carers in their invaluable roles.
Carers Week is an annual event dedicated to recognising and celebrating the hard work of carers. Carers often provide essential support to family members or friends who are ill, elderly, or disabled, many times without any financial compensation. In the UK, roughly 9% of people (around 5.7 million people) are carers.
This week is an opportunity to raise awareness of the challenges carers face, advocate for better support, and appreciate the difference they make in our communities. We will be providing you with useful resources, support and advice during the week whilst leaving this forum up for your to refer back too in future.
A survey by Carers UK found that for 82% of carers, the impact of caring on their physical and mental health would be a challenge over the coming year, and for nearly 60%, being valued as a carer would improve their well-being.
This years aim nationally for Carers Week is 'Putting Carers on the Map' highlighting the invaluable contributions of carers across the UK and ensuring their voices are heard loud and clear. Nationally we want to help increase the visibility of the carers among politicians, employers and throughout our communities. By raising awareness we hope they will better recognise the challenges unpaid carers face and help them access the support they deserve.
Carers FactSheets by Carers UK
Carers UK is a charity that supports carers with advice and resources. They have a wide range of factsheets and guides to explain what support may be available to help ease caring responsibilities. You can head to the below link for advice and support on areas such as Financial, Practical, Emotional Wellbeing, Working Carers, Nutrition etc.
Website: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/guides-and-tools/our-factsheets/
Carers Financial Support
Carers Allowance - What is Carer’s Allowance?
If you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for someone with an illness or disability, you may be eligible for extra money called Carer’s Allowance. It is paid at a rate of £81.90 per week (2024/25).
Who can claim Carer's Allowance?
You may be able to claim Carer’s Allowance if all the following apply:
• You look after someone for at least 35 hours a week.
• You don’t earn more than £151 per week (after deductions including tax, national insurance and certain expenses). Find out more about the earnings limit.
• The person you care for receives a disability benefit (see below).
• You’re aged 16 or over.
• You’re not in full-time education.
• You meet UK residence and presence conditions and UK immigration conditions – Citizens Advice has detailed information on this. Contact Advice NI if you live in Northern Ireland.
For more details about each of the above requirements, read on and take a look at our Carer's Allowance factsheet.
Carers Assessments
Getting a carer’s assessment could be the first step to gaining vital support. It’s your chance to discuss the help you need as a carer. Find out how it could make life easier for you and the person you care for by contacting our Disability Advocate Rosie who can help you through the process of a carers assessment.
As a carer, under the Care Act 2014 you are equally important as the people they care for. The Care Act gives carers the right to receive support from their local authority if they have eligible needs. You can get this
support through a carer’s assessment.
If you care for someone, you have a legal right to have your caring needs assessed under the Care Act 2014. A carer’s assessment should look at all your needs including the things you would like to be able to do in your daily life. Your needs should be written down in a support plan. You can get a personal budget and direct payments from the local authority to pay for services.
To find our more information about the care assessment process and what its for, you can read full details via the CarersUK forum: https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/practical-support/carers-assessment/
Below is a short video on a carers assessment with personal testimonials:
Self-Care and Well-being for Carers
Self-care is crucial for carers, as it allows them to maintain their health and continue providing support. This post offers practical self-care tips and resources to help carers take care of themselves.
Carers often put the needs of others before their own, leading to burnout and stress. It's essential to prioritize self-care to stay healthy and effective in the caring role. Here are some tips for maintaining well-being:
Regular Breaks: Take short, frequent breaks to rest and recharge.
Healthy Diet: Eat nutritious meals to keep energy levels up.
Exercise: Incorporate physical activity into your routine to reduce stress and improve mood.
Social Support: Connect with friends, family, or support groups to share experiences and seek advice.
Resources:
Support Groups: CFDN Forum - Connect with other carers for support and advice by commenting in the forum to get like-minded support.
Meditation Apps: Headspace and Calm - Apps for guided meditation and relaxation.
Local Programs: Find Local Wellness Programs - Discover local wellness services through the NHS.
Calming the Mind & Body: Wellbeing session hosted by One Place East on Zoom 3pm-5pm on the last Saturday of every month. Upcoming dates: 29th June and 27th July 2024. To book a free online place visit www.tinyurl.com/OPECMB2024