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How we support carers, families and friends
We know that supporting someone can be a difficult time. We want to make sure that you have all the advice and information that you need.
Anyone who provides support for example a family member, relative, partner, friend, or neighbour is a carer. You could be supporting someone who is ill, frail, disabled, has mental ill-health or substance misuse problems. They might be providing emotional support, medical care, personal care, physical care or doing jobs around the home.
If this sounds like you, please let staff know as soon as possible as we value your knowledge. We want to make sure that you have all the information and advice available. This will help keep you and the person you are supporting as well as possible.
Caring or supporting another person is not an easy role and it is normal to feel a range of emotions. The one thing we don’t want you to feel is alone.
Remember, it’s okay to ask about what matters to you, not just the needs of the person that you are supporting.
Our Community Hospital Wards are signed up to John’s Campaign. We have an open visiting times to support carer access to the hospital. This allows them to be with the person with dementia when they may be stressed, anxious, upset or lonely.
Prepared carer checklist
We understand that you want to do all you can to get the person you care for home safely. But we want to make sure that you can maintain a life of your own whilst staying healthy and well.
Below are a series of prepared carer checklists. They include a series of questions or prompts to help you to know what to expect. They can also help prepare you for the person you support. This is a personal working document that can be printed out and completed at home. It can be discussed with any team or service.
Supporting someone coming home from hospital: Prepared Carer Checklist v1dh1123.pdf [pdf] 501KB
Supporting someone receiving care: Prepared Carer Checklist v1cc1123.pdf [pdf] 502KB
Carer Organisations and Groups
Admiral Nurses – Supporting carers of people with dementia.
Our Admiral Nurses specialise in dementia care and the main focus of their work is supporting the carers of people with dementia. If you would like more information about this service please visit their webpage.
Worcestershire Association of Carers
Worcestershire Association of Carers is a registered charity that was founded in 1997 providing an independent source of information, advice and support for unpaid adult carers in Worcestershire
Tel: 0300 012 4272 (Monday - Friday: 9am to 7pm, Saturday: 9am to 12pm)
www.carersworcs.org.uk
Crossroads Caring for Carers Worcestershire
Crossroads Caring for Carers is Worcestershire's leading charity offering practical support for family-based carers and people with care needs. As a charity we care for people, not for profit and throughout the county we work with several hundred individuals and their families.
www.crossroadsworcs.org.uk
01905 729293
Herefordshire Crossroads Together
This service provides CarerLinks, and an information and advice service
www.crossroadstogether.org.uk
Tel: 01432 663057
Carers Careline (Redditch Area)
Carers Careline was established in March 1988. Our aim is to promote the health, mental and emotional wellbeing of adult carers, especially the elderly, in the local community through the identification of hidden carers, early intervention, preventative action and pastoral care.
Tel: 01527 66177
info@carerscareline.co.uk
www.carerscareline.co.uk
Worcestershire Young Carers
Worcestershire Young Carers is commissioned by Worcestershire County Council to provide assessment, signposting, one to one support and monthly youth clubs for young people with a caring role at home, aged between seven and 17, who live in Worcestershire - we also support young adult carers aged between 18 and 25. The caring role could be for a parent, a sibling or a grandparent due to illness, disability, physical or mental health difficulties or substance misuse.
Worcestershire Young Carers | YSS
Tel: 01905 619886
Herefordshire Crossroads Together
Crossroads Together (formerly Carers Trust 4all) provide an information and advice service called CarerLinks to support individuals who are new to caring for someone or for existing carers who need additional support. Through a team of Carer Advisors, they work in the community to identify hidden carers or carers needing support.
Support is also available to young carers.
www.crossroadstogether.org.uk
Tel: 01432 663057
Herefordshire@crossroadstogether.org.uk
Young carers in Herefordshire - Carer Links
Carer Links support young carers and their families across Herefordshire.
Tel: 01432 663057 or 0333 323 1990.
They can help families access services that will make their lives easier as well as offering young carers time out and respite from their caring responsibilities.
To enquire about young carer support groups and clubs contact:
For young carers under 18 – email Susan.brace@hycclub.co.uk or call 07484 245128
For young adult carers aged 16-25 email edroberts.hyac@gmail.com or call 07548 913863.
Age UK, including Dementia Advisors
Looking after someone (Carer support) | Worcestershire County Council
Other Carer Support Groups
Worcestershire Parent and Carers' Community
Worcestershire Parent and Carers’ Community was set up to provide support for families who have a child or young person with a disability and/or additional need.
We support the whole family, providing an opportunity to socialise with other families and simply enjoy a family day out.
One thing our families have in common is a wish to provide opportunities for ALL our children to reach their potential and to make ALL of their lives better.
Membership is free and open to anyone living, working or accessing services in Worcestershire, who has a child or young person with a disability and/or additional need.
Office Telephone: 01905 748278
Sue Evans at wpccsue@gmail.com
07955 760488
Activity Days, Workshops & Youth Group Enquiries
Audrey de Garis at wpccaud@gmail.com
07955 688031
Kinship Carers
Kinship care is when a child lives full-time or most of the time with a relative or friend who isn’t their parent, usually because their parents aren’t able to care for them. That relative or friend is called a ‘kinship carer’, and it’s estimated that around half of kinship carers are grandparents, but many other relatives including older siblings, aunts, uncles, as well as family friends and neighbours can also be kinship carers.
www.grandparentsplus.org.uk
Groups meet locally in Kidderminster, Bromsgrove, Redditch, Worcester and Malvern. Contact Ezna on 07714 531802 or email KinshipCarers@mail.com
The Carents Room
Help for Adults Caring for Elderly Parents - The Carents Room
Carents? Our word for mid life children providing care for elderly relatives in the community. Carenting? Our word for the multitude of activities carents undertake as first aiders, homemakers, care coordinators, personal shoppers, chauffeurs, secretaries and financial or legal advisers.
Pre and Post Bereavement Support
If a family member, friend or someone your care for is told they have a life limiting illness we recognise that this can impact on you as well as the person who has the diagnosis. The grief process can start before the actual death of a person.
Very often people feel they can only access support after the person has died and this is not true. Support is available to you straight away, it’s important for you to know that you are not alone.
We hope that the following information will help you to know what support you can access both before and after death, locally and nationally.
Local services:
Within the county of Worcestershire we have three hospices all of which provide support to families and carers. If your family member or friend is based outside of Worcestershire, you can still access this support as long as you have a Worcestershire GP.
St Richards Hospice, Worcester
Is available if you are located in the South of Worcestershire; Droitwich, Malvern, Worcester City, Pershore, Evesham, Tenbury and Upton
Support services for families and carers - St Richard's Hospice (strichards.org.uk)
Primrose Hospice
Is available if you are in the North East of Worcestershire; Redditch, Bromsgrove and Wythall
Adult Family Support - Primrose Hospice | Family Support Service
Kemp Hospice
Is available if you’re in the North West of Worcestershire; Kidderminster, Stourport and Bewdley
KEMP Hospice: The Wyre Forest Hospice
You do not need a professional referral to access these services, the webpages all tell you how you can access their services. Your GP is also there to support you and it’s important if you are struggling to contact them and see what support they can offer you, looking after your own physical and mental health during this time is important for both you and your relative or the person you provide care to.
What to do after a death — local support.
Below are some guides produced by the NHS in Herefordshire and Worcestershire following a death.
What_to_do_after_a_death_-_Worcestershire_V3.pdf [pdf] 1MB
What_to_do_after_a_death_-_Herefordshire_V3.pdf [pdf] 2MB
National services:
There are number of national charities that may also be able to help you, some you may have heard of, and others may be new to you. We have listed some below with links to their webpages.
You may also want to look for specific disease website as they also have lots of information and many offer advice on support.