Are you a carer?

Do you look after someone you love or care about?

If the answer is yes, you may not think about yourself as a carer. This is something we often do without question, for family members or close friends.

A carer is defined as anyone who cares for a family member or friend who could not manage without their support for example, supporting someone with a physical disability or long-term health condition, by helping with their shopping, cleaning their home or providing emotional support. The care you provide should be unpaid.

At some point in our lives 3 in 5 of us will become a carer. It can happen at any age.

Examples of carers:

• Adult carers – an adult caring for another adult such as a spouse, partner, friend or relative • Parent carers – an adult who cares for an ill or disabled child • Young adult carers (age 18- 25) and young carers (up to 17) – a child or young adult who is carrying out significant caring tasks, for example for a family member.

Caring for someone can be rewarding, but it can also be challenging, tiring and isolating. At South Coast Medical Group, we try to support our carers, in conjunction with the team at Carer Support Dorset.

Join our Carers Register

Our Carers lead is on hand to provide you with help and information and to assist you in registering with Carers Support. If you would like to join our register of carers, please call in to reception where you can pick up one of our registration forms.

Upon receipt of your completed form the Surgery will add you to our register and, with your consent forward your details to the Bournemouth Borough Council Help & Care team who will be able to provide you with information and advice for Carers and how to access support and other services.

For further information and support, visit the Help & Care website or the Carers page of the Bournemouth Borough Council website.

If you need to access information on behalf of the person you care for, for example appointment details or blood test results, and they are over 16, we ask that the patient provides us with a letter outlining what they are happy to share, so we can note this on their records.

Additional support and guidance for carers

Better Days – Information and Support

Parks in Mind – Virtual activities

Pramalife – Carers befriending and mentoring