The Caring Role: Tips to help you navigate your caring journey.
Know Your Rights as a Carer
Carers often recommend getting familiar with your rights as a carer, especially your right to a Carer’s Assessment from West Sussex County Council. This will help you understand what support and resources are available to you.
Carers RightsRequest a Carer’s Assessment
Many carers find that having a formal assessment helps to identify their needs and ensures they are accessing all available services, including potential respite care.
Learn About the Condition You’re Caring For
Gaining a deeper understanding of the person’s condition can make caregiving more manageable. Carers recommend using online resources or talking to healthcare professionals to stay informed.
Keep A Care Journal
Keeping a care journal helps document health changes, medication, and appointments. Many carers find this particularly useful for medical visits or emergencies.
Create A Care Plan
Fellow carers often suggest working with a healthcare professional to create a personalised care plan that ensures all the person’s needs are covered.
Register with Carers Support West Sussex (CSWS)
Registering with CSWS allows you to access tailored advice and support, plus opportunities to connect with other carers. Many carers say it’s a lifeline for practical and emotional support.
Contact the Carers Helpline
Many carers suggest contacting the Helpline in West Sussex, a one-stop point for accessing services, information, and advice, which can save time and energy.
Find Ways That Make Your Caring Role A Little Easier
Managing your cared for person’s incontinence can be challenging and it is hard to do so and maintain their dignity. A carer recommended the use of M&S ‘period pants’ which allow females to manage continence issues discreetly.
Set Yourself Realistic Goals
Define Boundaries: Establish what you can reasonably accomplish and seek assistance for tasks beyond your capacity.
Accept Imperfection: Understand that it's okay not to be perfect; strive for doing your best rather than achieving perfection.
Accept Help When Offered
Caring can be lonely at times, don’t turn away offers of help. You deserve to have help and support.
There Is A Difference
"There is a huge difference between being a carer for a loved one with mental illness as opposed to a loved one with a physical disability."
Choose Your Words Carefully
"When changing incontinence pads, please don't refer to it as "changing your nappy". I've heard this said many times. It's deeply humiliating. What's wrong with the word "pad"?"
Involve Your Cared For
"As far as possible you should involve the person you care for in any decision. The lack of control worries the cared for person."
Personal Care
"Turn knickers inside out to put pad in. Makes it easier to apply the pad. Prepare knickers with pads so they are ready."
Vulnerable people
If you have a vulnerable person living with you, sign up for the Priority Services Register to ensure you get help quickly if needed.
Use Local Community Services
Services like transport assistance, meals on wheels, or local shopping services are incredibly helpful for carers. Carers suggest exploring what’s available in your local community through West Sussex County Council.
Local charities like Age UK West Sussex and Alzheimer’s Society offer support services such as home visits, advice, and emotional help for carers.
Seek people
"Seek out people who are able to listen to you and support you, people who can tolerate your tears."
Register For A Carers Emergency Alert Card
This card can be kept in your purse or wallet and should you be taken ill serves as a prompt to anyone finding you that you have someone at home that needs your help. It will give you peace of mind and may offer some practical support in terms of emergency respite care.
A carers swap
"Setting up a carers swap forum. For example, I’ve got bags of incontinence products that I’ll need to throw away. Some new waterproof bed mats etc. set up a forum to give these to other carers."
Understand Legal Rights and Powers
Carers recommend learning about legal tools like Power of Attorney, which can give you the authority to make decisions for the person you’re caring for if needed.
POA Information BlogYour local library may be a great place to meet with others and stay connected to your local community
Check out what your local library offers and take advantage of the warm spaces that they provide during the winter months.