Carers
Perth and Kinross Council is committed to help you when you are
looking after someone. You may find that your life changes a lot.
You may find the person you care for needs more and more of your
time, and this affects your work and personal life. Sometimes you
have to learn new skills such as cooking or dealing with
finances.
You may feel that, bit by bit, you are losing control over your
life, because you are always needed by someone else.
If any of this applies to you then you are a carer. You can
become one at any time. For example, after someone you love
has been discharged from hospital. Many people take on this role
gradually and do not realise that the help they give to someone
they love means they are becoming a carer.
This page explains your rights as a carer and guides you to the
available help and support.
Definition of a carer
Rights of the carer
Carers support group
Useful contacts
Carers Scotland
Carers Conferences
Definition of a carer
The Scottish Government defines carers as someone "who look
after a partner, husband or wife, son or daughter, relative or
friend with a disability or illness. Many carers live with the
person they care for, but many look after someone who lives
independently, in supported accommodation, in hospital, or in a
care home".
Carers are family members or friends who look after someone
without pay or financial reward. They are sometimes known as
'informal' carers or more frequently as unpaid carers. It should be
noted that pay does not include benefits such as the Carers
Allowance.
You may not like the title, but it does give you certain rights,
and so it is worth thinking about quite seriously.
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What are carer's rights?
The most important rights you have as a carer are to be
respected and treated with dignity and to be listened to and
to have your views taken into account. This means:
- You should be asked if you are able and willing to take on some
or all of the caring duties. Health and Community care
professionals should not just assume this.
- You should be consulted about the services that could be
provided for the person you care for if they wish so.
- You should be provided with help and support, so that caring
doesn't take over your life and cause you ill health.
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Carers Support Groups
Family and friends can provide a lot of support, but there are
times when you may need some time and space of your own or time to
talk about your feelings with someone not directly involved.
It might help to join a carer support group.
Carer Support Groups are groups of carers who have come together to
offer mutual support. It can be helpful to meet other people who
understand how demanding it is to be a carer. Support Groups
offer somewhere to talk, laugh, relax and have a break.
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Useful Contacts
We have a list of useful local contacts that can provide helpful
services for carers. If you would like a copy please
click here and send us an e-mail or call 0845 30
111 20 . Remember - we can provide this list in any format
you may need, including Braille, Moon, large print, Audio CD
or languages other than English. We can send it by post or
e-mail.
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Carers Scotland
This is a carer-focused charity that can give you advice and
also produce a range of leaflets available for free. You can
get copies of leaflets from Carers Scotland by contacting them by
phone on 0141 445 3070 or by writing to them
at:
Carers Scotland,
The Cottage,
21 Pierce Street,
GLASGOW,
G51 3UT
Carers Scotland's
website.
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Carer Conferences
The Council organises two Carer Conferences each year -
usually in April and October. These are great opportunities to meet
other carers. We hold:
- Information sessions - information and advice on subjects that
might be of help to you, not just as a carer, but as a person in
your own right;
- Discussion sessions - sometimes we need your help or opinion
to make decisions that were agreed in the Carers Strategy (for
example What would be the best way to organise health checks for
carers?);
- Fun sessions - relaxation and advice on how to
make you feel and cope with stress better.
Carers are always involved in the planning of these events and
the feedback from all of them, so far, has been excellent.
Programme and feedback from the last conference will be uploaded
soon.
If you would like to attend the next conference,
click here to register your interest .
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