What is a carer?
An unpaid carer is someone who looks after a friend, family member or neighbour, who due to disability, mental or physical ill health, or an addiction, could not cope without their support.
Carers do a wide range of tasks, which might include:
practical tasks, such as cooking meals, housework and shopping
physical care, such as helping someone out of bed
personal care, such as helping someone wash, un/dress and feed
emotional support
dealing with challenging behaviour
organising medication
managing finances
helping someone to communicate or translating on their behalf
organising appointments
supervising younger children/siblings and taking them to school
Caring for someone has many rewarding aspects, and Carers often develop many useful skills through their caring role. However, caring for someone else can also take its toll on your physical and mental health, social life, career and relationships.
Not everyone thinks of themselves as a carer. You may think you are just doing your bit to help. However, recognising that you are a Carer is important in getting the practical, emotional and financial support you need. If you want to carry on working, you may also need support in the workplace. It is vital to look after yourself and to meet your own needs to enable you to continue to provide care and support to the person you’re caring for.
As a carer you are entitled to an annual free seasonal flu vaccination but you do need to provide the surgery with information about your carer role so that we can document this on our clinical system records.
The term ‘carer’ does not include any carer who:
• gets payment either in cash or in another way for the care they provide
• works as a volunteer on behalf of a voluntary organisation.
Please note parents do not need to register as carers of their own children.
Carer Support Merton is is a very good local, carer support organisation based in Vestry Hall on the London Road, Mitcham.
If you would like to talk to someone about the support we can offer to you as a carer, you can call Carers Support Merton on: 020 8646 7515 Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm.
Carers Support Merton
The Vestry Hall
336-338 London Rd
Mitcham CR4 3UD
If you are a carer and meet the above criteria please let the practice know. We will then add this information to your records. You will then be eligible for an annual influenza vaccination and will be automatically invited for this during our annual influenza vaccination season.
Social care support all identified carers can be referred to social services for assessment of support needs, if they wish. If you would like to take up this offer please speak to one of the clinicians. Carers who care for family members with a learning disability will have their support needs discussed during the annual health review at the surgery. If carers of people with a learning disability have unidentified support needs, these can be discussed with Merton Learning Disability team.
Local carer discount card
If you are a carer there is a local carer discount card available for use with local organisations. Please go to Carers Support Merton for more information.
Alternatively, you can contact Debbie Kilby, at Carers Support Merton on 020 8646 7515 or email her at Debbie@csmerton.org.