This page provides comprehensive information on the support available for carers, including details about local carers' cafes and other resources in your area.
Frequently Asked Questions
Am I an unpaid carer?
A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, mental health challenge or an addiction cannot cope without their support. You might help the person you look after in a variety of ways including shopping, collecting prescriptions or other medical supplies, cooking, cleaning, providing personal care, emotional support or helping them get around.
You carry out these duties without being paid, and not through employment or voluntary work. It doesn't matter whether you are receiving a benefit such as carer's allowance or a pension.
A young carer is someone aged 8-16 years and a young adult carer is someone aged 16-25 years. An adult carer is someone aged 25 and onwards.
If this sounds like you, then yes, you are an unpaid carer!
What support is available for unpaid carers?
If you are an adult carer, you have a right to an Adult Carer Support Plan to help you to continue caring.
You can request a Adult Carer Support Plan from PKAVS or Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership who can then help to put your support in place. You can access our essential guide (PDF, 780 KB) for unpaid carers to support services.
What is an Adult Carer Support Plan?
An Adult Carer Support Plan starts with a conversation with a worker where you discuss your caring role and what is important to you in your life. It helps plan what could support you to work towards your goals.
Why is an Adult Carer Support Plan important?
An Adult Carer Support Plan helps you to think about what support you might need if you wish to continue caring and what could enable you to have a life alongside caring. The Plan sets out any outcomes you have and how they will be met. A Support Plan can give you access to a wider range of services and support which is based on your individual circumstances and outcomes. As a minimum, every carer can access information and support from Perth and Kinross Health and Social Care Partnership and community organisations like PKAVS. Some examples of support for carers are:
- information and advice;
- Welfare Rights and advocacy;
- community alarm and telecare service
- joint equipment loan service
- carer cafés and support groups;
- short breaks or respite;
- counselling or one-to-one support;
- relaxation therapies;
- carer training courses;
- and leisure activities like walking groups, swimming, singing or art.
How do you make an Adult Carer Support Plan?
Before you have a conversation with your worker, it can help to think of a typical day helping the person you care for and make a note of your needs and concerns. If the caring situation changes a lot over time, think about what a good and bad day looks like. Also think about the things that could help support you to continue with your caring role.
Your worker will talk about outcomes with you. Outcomes are a way of describing what is important to you and an opportunity to discuss what your aims and hopes are.
- Some examples of outcomes are:
- being as well as you can be;
- feeling valued;
- feeling informed;
- having a life outside of caring;
- and being listened to.
The key points of the conversation are written down with agreed actions and this becomes the Adult Carer Support Plan. You will have a copy to keep. If you wish, a copy can also be given to any other person you choose.
What do I do next?
If you would like more information about what support is available to you as an unpaid carer you can contact PKAVS by telephone on 01738 567076, email carershubadmin@pkavs.org.uk or visit their Carers Centre website.
Alternatively, you can contact the Access Team at Perth and Kinross Council on 0345 30 111 20 or email AccessTeam@pkc.gov.uk
Carers' cafés and support
Perth
| Day and Time | Organisation | Location | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every second Tuesday at 2pm to 3.30pm | Alzheimer Scotland | Alzheimer Resource Centre, 7 George Street, Perth | For more information, contact GWiscombe@alzscot.org |
| Every Wednesday afternoon at 2pm to 4pm | Health and Wellbeing Cafe | 3.16 Café, King Edward Street, Perth | Open to carers and those they care for |
| First Wednesday of every month at 10am to 12pm | Dementia Café | North Church, Mill Street, Perth | For people with dementia and their carers |
| Every Wednesday at 10am to 12pm | Letham for All, Butty and a Blether | Rannoch Road, Perth PH1 2DO | Not specifically for carers, all are welcome. |
| Every Wednesday at 2pm | PKAVS Carers Choir, Gie It Laldy | Perth Theatre, 185 High Street, Perth PH1 5UW | |
| Every Thursday at 6pm | Perthshire Welfare Society | Perth Business Centre, Unit 3, 28 Glasgow Road, Perth | For minority communities |
Kinross
| Day and Time | Organisation | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Every second Tuesday at 10am to 12pm | Kinross Drop-in | Kinross Day Centre, 64 High Street, Kinross, KY13 8AJ |
Crieff and Auchterarder
| Day and Time | Organisation | Location | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Every Monday at 1pm to 3pm | Auchterarder Archway Community Café | 24 High Street, Auchterarder | First Monday of the month with Carer Support. Light lunch provided. |
| Second Thursday of each month at 10.30am till 12pm | Royal British Legion | Hall Perth Road, Crieff PH7 3EB |
Highland
| Day and Time | Organisation | Location | More Information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Happy Highlanders | Various - social events and outings arranged throughout the year | Supporting carers and those they care for. |
Meet Taylor and Sam
Take a look at Taylor and Sam's inspiring journey. When Taylor steps into the role of a full-time carer, they uncover the wealth of support available for unpaid carers. Discover the resources and assistance that can make a difference in your life too.
Share this page
