Are you a carer?

If you provide unpaid help or support to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour who could not manage without you, then you are a carer.

Recognising you are a carer can be the first step to getting the help and support you may need in your caring role.  

Firstly, we recommend to patients that are carers of any age to inform your GP as soon as possible. Support is available throughout the life course for carers from 5 years upwards.

Your GP practice will do their best to be flexible with appointment times to accommodate your caring situation. They can also provide health checks to make sure you are fit and healthy and not neglecting your own health because of your caring duties, which is sadly all too common.  

Whilst caring for a loved one can be rewarding, we also understand the many challenges that being a carer can bring. However, there is advice and support available so we recommend you register with your local Carers’ Centre, Carers Trust Hillingdon who is a national Network Partner of Carers Trust, an organisation that brings together carers services from across the UK.   

Carers Trust Hillingdon can offer:

•  High Street Advice Centre opposite Tesco in Uxbridge
•  Expert Welfare Benefit advice and help to claim carer-related benefit entitlements. This service is also offered in Urdu, Punjabi and Hindi
•  Training for carers in some of the skills needed to care, but also for personal interests too. We know time for you is critical for your continued health and wellbeing
•  Book clubs, hobby groups, painting and craft groups and IT support sessions
•  Social opportunities, Carer Cafes across the borough and peer support groups
•  1:1 emotional support, counselling and psychotherapeutic support groups
•  A programme of health and wellbeing activities including yoga, chair exercise, alternative therapies, mindfulness, regular Health MOT and Pamper days
•  Specialist mental health and dementia support
• Help for young carers of all ages, including Clubs, school holiday activities, trips, weekends away, arts and sports activities and supported transition from school for 16-25 year old young adult carers
• Assistance in accessing care and support or referral to other services

Please note that all services offered by Carers Trust Hillingdon

 are free of charge

All you need to do to register is either pick up the phone and call the team on

01895 811206

Or for more information please visit https://carerstrusthillingdon.org

  where you can complete an online registration form if you prefer

NHS support 

There is also wealth of information and support on the NHS Website for carers, see below for links into the NHS site that we hope you will find useful.

There is a wealth of information on NHS Choices about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

Telling people

Caring responsibilities can make it difficult to maintain friendships or develop new ones. Telling your friends you're a carer is important so they understand and can support you.

Taking a break

Caring for someone can be a full-time job, but it's essential that you take time out for yourself too. Read our guide to accessing breaks and respite.

Housing and carers

Do you know your tenancy rights as a carer? Are you aware of all your care at home options? Do you need tips on moving someone around the home?

Telephone: 0808 802 0202

Website: Carersdirect

Email: CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk

Office Hours: 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

Benefits for carers

Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role

Benefits for the person you care for

Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to

Death and benefits

How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits

Managing someone's legal affairs

Advice for when carers find they have to take over the legal affairs of the person they are looking after

Other benefits

Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

Personal and household finance

Advice on keeping a tight rein on household and personal finance for carers

Social fund

Tax credits

Information on claiming tax credits and whether you might be eligible