Are You a Carer?
If you are please let us know – we may be able to help you
There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.
- A guide to care and support – information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
- Caring for someone – advice on providing care, medicines etc.
- Care after hospital – providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
- Taking a break – caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
- Support and benefits for carers – caring for someone can be a full-time job – find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
- Work and Disability – guidance, support and help with employment issues.
- Being a Young carer – advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support
- Carers First (Medway) – If you’re an unpaid carer supporting someone in Medway, we’re here to help with online help and advice, as well as 1-2-1 practical and emotional support. Remember, you don’t have to wait until crisis point before asking for help – the earlier you ask, the bigger difference it can make.
Finance and Law
Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.
- Benefits for carers -directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role
- Benefits for the under-65s – advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
- Benefits for the over-65s – advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
- Carer’s Assessment – how your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
- 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
Contact Carers Direct
Telephone – 0808 802 0202
Helpline Information – nhs.uk/carersdirect/carerslives/updates/pages/carersdirecthelpline.aspx
Email – carersdirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk
Office Hours – Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.