Are you a carer?

Are you helping someone with everyday household tasks like shopping, cleaning, cooking, washing or dressing?

Do you provide transport to medical appointments, emotional or mental health support?

By doing these things you are considered to be a carer and there is support available in Dorset specifically for you.

By registering with us as a carer it can benefit you in the following ways:

• Free flu vaccination
• Higher priority for the Covid-19 vaccination
• Longer or double appointments
• Convenient appointment times that fit around your caring needs
• Home visit appointments
• Repeat prescriptions
• Information Carers Clinics/ Carers Groups running within the surgery
• Sharing of information regarding the person you care for (with their consent)
• Involvement, as far as possible, in planning treatment, care and support for the cared-for person
• Health checks
• Annual welfare/review calls to check you as a carer are receiving the support needed to maintain your health and wellbeing
• Local information and support groups
• Support letters and information to enable both the carer and cared-for person to access benefits
• Referrals to non-clinical health coach/social prescribers.

If you are please let us know as we may be able to help you

CONTACT US

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.

• A guide to care and support:Information for carers and people who have care & support needs.
• Caring for someone: Advice on providing care, medicines etc.
• Care after hospital: Providing care for people who have been recently discharged from hospital.
• Taking a break: Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
• Support and benefits for carers: Caring for someone can be a full-time job - find out about accessing breaks and respite care.
• Work and Disability: Guidance, support and help with employment issues.
• Being a Young carer: Advice for carers 18 or under and their entitlement to support

Finance and Law

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 under-65s: Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.
• Benefits for the over-65s: Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.
• Carer's Assessment: How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits
• 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

Contact Carers Direct

Telephone: 0808 802 0202   
Helpline Information: website  
Email: CarersDirect@nhschoices.nhs.uk   
Office Hours: Lines are open 8am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 11am to 4pm at weekends. Calls are free from UK landlines.