Carers Advice
Are You a Carer?
If you are please let us know via the online form below - we may be able to help you.
Carers UK
They’re here to make sure that no matter how complicated your query or your experience, you don’t have to care alone.
Telephone: 020 7378 4999
Website: www.carersuk.org
Email: info@carersuk.org
Register a Carer
Register a Carer
NHS Links
There is a wealth of information Carers Trust or NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
- Caring for a parent
Watch this video on: caring for a parent at home
- Telling people
Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you're a carer is important so they understand and can support you.
- Taking a break
Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it's essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.
- Housing and carers
Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits and financial support for carers
Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
- Benefits for the person you care for
Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to
- Benefit and financial support when someone dies
How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- Managing someone's legal affairs
Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after
- Other benefits
Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring
- Personal and household finance
Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers
- Social Fund
- Tax Credits
Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible
Carers Support East Kent
Information and support for anyone who cares for a relative or friend, who due to physical or mental illness, age-related difficulties, disability or an addiction, cannot manage without your support.
Telephone: 01304 364 637
Website: www.carersek.org.uk
Email: support@carersek.org.uk
Crossroads Care Kent
Crossroads Care Kent help Carers to make a life of their own outside caring by providing quality care services offering peace of mind while they enjoy some time to themselves.
Facebook: @CrossroadsCareKent
Telephone: 03450 956 701
Website: www.crossroadskent.org
Email: enquiries@crossroadskent.org
Young Carers
Is this you? – You may be a young carer!
Many young people do not consider themselves to be young carers, they are just looking after someone in their family who needs help and getting on with that needs to be done.
In order to care safely and stay in good health, young carers need information, support, respect and recognition. Many young carers continue to go unrecognised, and although they spend a lot of time looking after someone, they frequently say they feel invisible.
The Carers support Centre uses a family centred approach to provide information, advice and support to young carers and their families.
Website: https://imago.community/Children-and-Young-People/YANA
Your Own Health
We will do our best to help you look after yourself as well as the person you care for.
Our Carers Champion is Chris. If you have any queries about how we can help you, please call the Surgery and ask for Chris.
We offer:
- Register of carers – Please register yourself as a carer at reception or download a carers form
- Flu Vaccinations for all carers each Autumn
- Helping you get appointments at times that work best for you
- Listening to how caring is affecting you and what you think is best for the person you look after
- Sometimes we can speak to you about the condition of the person you care for or the medication they are using as long as there is consent given.
Help for Young Carers
It is difficult looking after someone. It’s important for you to have some help and support for yourself. At Live Well Kent, we have a ‘no wrong door’ approach. You can get help from us through any of the charities and service providers in our network.
Website: https://livewellkent.org.uk/how-to-get-help/
Support at School
It is important that you let your school know you are a young carer, speak to someone you know and trust, for example a tutor. Some schools run groups especially for young carers.
Useful Contacts
Advice on looking after a parent, brother or sister; and information on fitting in socialising with caring and dealing with feelings.
Information for brothers and sisters of disabled children and adults.
Hamstreet Surgery - 01233 730190
If you have any queries or require any further information that you cannot find on this page, please call the Surgery and ask for our Carers Champion, Chris.