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What is a carer?
A carer is anyone who gives help to, or assists, someone who could be suffering from addiction, disability, frailty, illness or mental health. A lot of people don’t see themselves as carers - this could be due to the nature of their relationship with the person they’re caring for. However, a carer could be anyone from a friend, partner or family member, even children and young adults.
Even if you’re not a carer right now, it’s likely that, at some point in your life, you will have caring responsibilities. Being a carer isn’t easy, with the added responsibility that goes with it & it can feel at times like you’re getting snowed under. However, there are options to give both the carer & the person needing care some help. Shown below are some services that support both the carer & person being cared for.
Are You a Carer?
If you are please let us know - we may be able to help you.
Local Support
The Ridgeway Surgery
We can help carers access:
- Carer’s Health checks
- Flag carer’s records to ensure this is considered when planning care
- Flu and COVID priority invites for registered carer
- Joint appointments (patient + carer) where appropriate
- Access to support services via our team (for example social prescribers and enhanced practice nurses)
- Work closely with the RSPG to improve our overall responsiveness
The Ridgeway Surgery Patients’ Group (RSPG)
The RSPG acts as the voice of our patients, representing their views and helping us to improve the care and services we provide. The group works with us to:
Advocate for patients and carers, ensuring their experiences and needs are heard & support clear communication and accessible information.
Provide feedback on new services and health initiatives and promote wellbeing and awareness of local community support.
Our PPG helps ensure the practice remains responsive, welcoming, and supportive for all patients, including those with caring responsibilities.
Harrow Carers
Harrow Carers helps to provide assistance to carers with anything from their own personal mental health and well-being to social and financial help.
National Support
Carers UK
Caring will affect us all at some point in our lives. With your help, they can be there for the 6,000 people who start looking after someone each day.
Carers Trust
Carers Trust is a major charity for, with and about carers. They work to improve support, services and recognition for anyone living with the challenges of caring, unpaid, for a family member or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or addiction problems. Their vision is that unpaid carers count and can access the help they need to live their lives.
Age UK
AgeUK is a charity with the main goal to improve the quality of life and help people to enjoy the latter years of their life.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice is a government-funded website with the purpose to provide carers & the people in care with additional financial benefits & support i.e. blue badges.
Carer Cards
Carer cards can be applied for by a carer to help in day-to-day life, for instance making sure in the event of emergency the person being cared for can receive the right care, as well as some retail discounts.