I’m quite new to caring, just over a year, looking after my elderly mother. She’s quite frail and in a wheelchair for any trips, but uses a walker indoors so getting more and more independent. I am still finding it extremely exhausting as I have my own ill health too.
Just wondered what experiences carers have had with the assessment process for carers. What support was offered; or if a direct payment or personal budget was considered.
My own experience is absoultely dismal but may be I’m asking for too much from social services. I asked for help with household cleaning and a gym membership. They declined of course. But I was wondering what other help has been offered to carers through their local authority.
I asked for those things as that is what I struggle with the most. Haven’t changed bed linen for weeks and haven’t hoovered for weeks because I only have enough energy to do the absolute bare essentials.
Any thoughts?
Hi @Valentine , welcome to the fourm. You are right about the carers assessment being a waste of time because SS don’t want to help or belive you have it. I would suggest trying the gp and tell them that you got no engery and you have requested for help but it getting ignored. I would also try contacting the carers helpline who can help @Melly1 and @Michael_CarersUK . you could try the red cross or the salvathion army they might know people who can help. I have my self been in this battle my self but I have had to keep going as SS never listern unless you swear at them but it gets you no where apart from the police coming around. if you are still having trouble try your local counllior or mp for help. all the best
Yes, my GP knows about my chronic illnesses. I apparently have had a carers assessment but they didn’t do a support plan and said I was not eligible. I can’t see how that can be! I’ve tried our local carers support but they said their hands are tied and that the council only offer a “sitting service” but because I have not taken that up (I don’t need a sitting service - I need physical help to manage the home), they can’t offer anything else. There is all this nonsense about them valuing carers (as if we didn’t take up the caring, then they would have to pay for it all), and then not offering anything of value or any benefit. They can offer signposting and information, but what use is the information if I can’t access these things. Financially, we are really struggling as we had to get out two loans; one for a second hand car as mum couldn’t get into our old car, and another for a stairlift and bathroom to be made accessible (not a full wetroom but something mum could get into). Total those together and we have a £20,000 loan to pay back. If the council were to pull their finger out, I could at least go swimming once or twice a week which actually helps with my energy levels and mental health. When I’m not swimming, I sleep really badly and GP won’t prescribe anything for longer than 10 days at a time. So I’ve basically got insomnia and that impacts on what I can do in a day.
I keep asking myself, what are they supposed to be doing to help carers, as there is all this info on different carers website that says they are responsible for our health and wellbeing…
Had to get that off my chest!! Thanks for replying. All the best.
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@Valentine welcome to the forum. I think you should not expect too much help from SS, there is none. I joined a local carers group and that has helped to be with people who understand. This forum brings loads of support and advice.
Theory and Practice can be very different.
I suggest you look at the LA website and see if they have a Carers Charter or Carers Policy.
I’m in Hampshire, their latest Carers Charter was announced with a lot of publicity, I have a copy of it, and the one before. Unfortunately none of the social workers I’ve spoken to know anything about it. The two people who came to see me were so useless they drove up and down a straight road for 40 minutes in total before the meeting actually started, and were basically utterly incompetent.
I never EVER ask anyone to do me a favour, but do expect them to do the job that they are paid to do properly. So yet another formal complaint going to the LA shortly!
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