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Carer's Link Project Winners of the Community Care "Carers Award" 2003 The Carers' Link Project tries to ensure that Carers have access to information about the support available for them locally and nationally and that they have the help and support of health and social care professionals. The Project covers the whole of North Staffordshire and supports Carers in the following ways: A member of the Link Team is always available, during office hours, to answer questions and offer help, information and support. Give us a call on 01782 831616 FILES OF INFORMATION FOR CARERS The File of Information for Carers can be found in all the GP Surgeries in North Staffordshire and on every hospital ward. It is intended to support Carers in their caring role, by providing information about the services available both locally and nationally. The File is divided into colour-coded sections as follows: North Staffs Carers Association - the support provided by the Association. Carers' Assessment - what an assessment is, how to get an assessment, things to think about when you are being assessed. Carers, Employment & Training - juggling work and caring, getting back into employment, training opportunities. Health and Health Conditions - A to Z of health problems and illnesses with website addresses/telephone numbers for support groups. Going into Hospital - the implications of going into hospital, what to do while the person you care for is in hospital, post discharge advice. Respite and Palliative Care -different types of respite care/sitting services and how to access them. Counselling and Advice - local and national organisation offering counselling or advice. Financial & Legal Affairs - benefits, additional sources of income, state pensions for Carers, power of attorney, residential/nursing care. Help staying at Home - home adaptations, equipment, handy man services, care-call systems. Transport and Mobility - mobility aids, parking concessions, wheelchairs. All the information is regularly checked and updated. The File is fairly comprehensive. But, if there is anything else that you think should be in there, call us on 01782 831616 or contact us via the "Send us Feedback" page. What people say about the Information File: " Very clear information, broken into categories really well. The colour coding is great, bold, simple to understand and very comprehensive." "Whatever the enquiry or the question, the answers and information are in the File". " The File is brilliant. Lots of information which I found useful and it is in the waiting area where everyone can see it." " I searched everywhere for a phone number and then I looked in your File and there it was!" CARER LINK CONTACTS In all the places that have a File of Information, we have asked a member of staff to act as a link between the staff who work there, the Carers that they come into contact with and North Staffs Carers Association. This member of staff is called the Carer Link Contact. He or she looks after the File on a day-to-day basis and helps people look through it, to find the information they need. Link Contacts come in a variety of "disguises" - including practice managers, surgery reception staff, nurses, ward sisters and social care officers If you need help looking through the File or have any questions about your caring role ask to speak to a Carer Link Contact. CARERS' REGISTERS A Carers' Register is one way for a surgery or health centre to keep track of which of their patients are Carers. This enables health care staff to offer Carers appropriate help and support. If you are a Carer it is important that you tell your surgery that you are caring for someone, and ask for your name to be put on the surgery's Carers' Register. The Carers' Link Team have designed Carers' "Identity Cards", which Carers can hand in at the surgery. The card identifies the holder as a Carer and asks for their name to be added to the Register. If you would like one of these cards to take into your surgery, please contact us on 01782 831616. ((Please note: not all surgeries have Carers' Registers. You will need to ask whether your surgery has one.) WORKING WITH HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE PROFESSIONALS An important part of the Link Team's work is ensuring that health and social care professionals are able to help and support Carers. The team stays in regular contact with those professionals whose work brings them into contact with Carers and tries to ensure that they are aware of Carers' issues and of the many options available for offering help and support. You will find more information about our work with professionals on the "Information for Professionals" page. HELPING CARERS MAINTAIN THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING As a Carers Association we understand that a vast amount of Carers do not actually see themselves as Carers and so often do not receive the help and support they so desperately deserve. In Staffordshire alone there are estimated to be over 80, 000 Carers. For this reason it is imperative that NSCA provides the best resources to support Carers. A Carer is someone who, without payment, looks after a partner, child, other family member or friend who has an illness or disability and would not be able to manage without this help. Being a Carer can affect anybody of any age, gender or culture and often without warning. A Carers' lifestyle is frequently restricted and many Carers become mentally and physically exhausted by their caring role. This can cause the Carers' health to break down. 65% of Carers find that their health is adversely affected by the pressure of caring. Every year significant numbers of Carers are forced to stop caring because of illness or injury. Much of this can be prevented, by providing Carers with information and support. The Link Team have therefore given the "Health Care for Carers, Self Health Checklist" a revamp, in the hope that the booklet will draw Carers' attention and subsequently provide them with a wealth of information to ensure that they also take good care of themselves. It is imperative that Carers understand that their health is as important as that of the person they care for. If you feel you can benefit from the Carers Self Health Checklist, please take the time to have a look at the sample pages below and contact us on 01782 831616 to receive your free copy. Alternately you can use the order form on the Mailing List / Order Form page. What health problems are bothering you? Have your problems increased since you became a Carer? If you have not already discussed your health problems with your GP, a health check appointment is an ideal opportunity. Put a tick if you have any of these health conditions. Arthritis Migraine / Headaches Sight difficulties (even with spectacles on) Hearing difficulties High blood pressure Fainting / giddy attacks Heart problems Breathing problems Diabetes Recent weight fluctuations Sleeping difficulties Continence difficulties Problems with intercourse Menopause / prostate problems List any other health problems you are worried about Health tips Prostate Awareness: difficulties in passing water slow flow dribbling before reaching the toilet wetting the bed - a full bladder can overflow Talk to your GP or Continence Nurse if you have any concerns. Continence: leaking on physical exertion getting up in the night to use the toilet getting to the toilet too late wetting the bed Incontinence is a common problem and can affect anyone at any age. Significant help can be given to cure or improve the condition. Discuss this with your GP or Continence Nurse. There are helping hands out there, don't be afraid to ask!!     North Staffs Carers Association is a Company Limited by Guarantee, registered in England and Wales. Registered Number 3313461. Registered Office: Unit 2, Burslem Enterprise Centre, Moorland Road, Burslem, Stoke on Trent, ST6 1JQ Tel: 01782 834 836 (answerphone out of hours)      Fax: 01782 831 610 North Staffs Carers Association is a registered charity. Charity number 1062548 This web site is supported by funding from Staffordshire County Council and Stoke on Trent City Council.