Being a carer for a family member can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging and confusing at times, as there are many things that you will need to consider. You might be wondering what type of support you might be eligible for. It’s crucial to learn as much as you can so that you can provide quality support and care to a loved one. Within this guide, you will find a few key things that you need to know about accessing support, if you are a carer for a family member. This will help you determine what you can do next.

Get Their Needs Assessed

Firstly, it can be beneficial to start by getting your loved one’s needs assessed so that you can get a detailed understanding of the level of help that they need. You will need to find out if they qualify for social care funding via your local Council. If your family member has advanced health needs, they may also be eligible for Continuing Healthcare funding through the NHS. In that case a health or social care professional will conduct an assessment. This will involve the use of a form called the Decision Support Tool, which will determine if your loved one is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare. However, it’s possible that you may have difficulties accessing Continuing Healthcare, which means that you may need to seek additional support. For example, our team at Socia Partners can help you get accurate information regarding funding and adult social care.

Look For Financial Support

You may also be able to access financial support, depending on your current income and any benefits that you might be claiming at the moment. It’s advisable to find out if you can access support from the government, such as a Carer’s Allowance. Therefore, you may want to read more about how it works and what factors you will need to consider. However, if you’re struggling to navigate the social care system, make sure you check out this glossary page. Moreover, you don’t need to live with the person you care for, as long as you spend at least 35 hours a week caring for them.

Consider Other Options

There might be other avenues of care that you may want to explore, even if you want to do most of the caring yourself. Depending on your circumstances, you may want to look into both short-term and long-term options. For example, it can be a good idea to learn more about groups and day centres, which offer structured activities, that your loved one can get involved in. This will give you a chance to take a break and free up some time for yourself.

Take Care Of Yourself

Finally, don’t forget to look after yourself during this time as much as possible. Although it can be stressful at times, it’s important to take care of your physical and mental wellbeing. This will ensure that you are in the best position to give the right support to a family member. It might be helpful to check out a few local support groups that you can join, as well as other organisations, which may offer additional help. If you are unsure about anything, take a look at our FAQs to find out more about the work that we do at Socia Partners.

Make sure you read more about our services and don’t hesitate to contact us for more information on the support you can for your family.