Unpaid Carers
Help and support
Support from Social Care – Assessments
You can ask for an assessment of needs for yourself, a family member or friend or the person you are looking after. This assessment should take all circumstances into account, including your contribution to the person’s care and the help you need to go on caring.
You may also find it useful to ask their advice on how to help the person you are caring for to become less dependent on you. In many cases, with a little support and guidance, someone who has had a setback can re-learn skills. Adult Care staff are expert in identifying what support is needed to help people regain their independence.
Support may also be available prior to the needs assessment being carried out.
Carers Support Pembrokeshire offers help and support to carers, aged 18+. You can contact them on:
Tel: 0300 0200 002 or email carerssupportpembs@ctcww.org.uk
Services from the Health Service
Your doctor can give you general information about the illness or disability affecting the person you are looking after, and how it might develop. Your doctor can only give you specific information about the person you care for if that person agrees that you should have it. It is important that you talk this through before you approach the doctor. He or she can also put you in touch with specialist organisations that can give you information and support.
It is often very stressful caring for someone else and it can make you susceptible to injury and illness. The doctor can give you help and advice if your own health is suffering because you are looking after someone else. You can get advice about lifting and relevant training from your surgery. Independently, you can hire a night care service so that you can get some uninterrupted sleep.
If you tell your doctor that you are an unpaid carer, they can register you as an unpaid carer in their records. This may help co-ordinate services for you and the person you care for and can help you access local support services. To register as an unpaid carer with your GP, see a member of staff at the surgery.
Carers information - Hywel Dda University Health Board (opens in a new tab)
Carers UK - coming out of hospital (opens in a new tab)
Taking a break
Caring for someone can be exhausting; taking a break can be vital for everyone’s wellbeing and quality of life.
The person, or those, you care for could also benefit from enjoying new experiences, a change of scene and routine, and meeting other people.
Do you look after an older person on an unpaid basis? Do you struggle to book a short break / respite in a residential care home? If so, Pembrokeshire County Council has a new arrangement with a number of care homes which might be able to help. For further details please contact the Carers Support Pembrokeshire Service (opens in a new tab).
Everyone’s needs are different and it may be helpful to take time to consider what would work best, e.g. an hour or so per week, a day here and there or even a holiday.