Family Carers
Are you helping a spouse do routine daily activities such as cooking, cleaning, and bathing? If so, you could be classed as a family carer.
Are you a friend helping out by doing the odd bit of shopping or posting letters as your friend is finding it difficult to venture out? If so, you could be classed as a family carer.
Please register as a carer so that we can update your medical records.
Carers Trust explains the tasks a family carer may undertake as:
- Practical household tasks such as cooking, cleaning, washing up, ironing, paying bills and financial management.
- Personal care such as bathing, dressing, lifting, administering medication and collecting prescriptions.
- Emotional support such as listening, offering advice and friendship.
The above tasks are everyday activities. It is very hard for the surgery to identify spouses or friends as family carers as you will not see yourself in that role most of the time. You will see it as helping out or even as a married duty that you are happy to do.
Sometimes the tasks can leave the family carer tired and not always looking after themselves as they should. This is where we come in to help you with advice and point you in the right direction of groups of carers in the same situation. They can talk to you and they understand what you are dealing with.
Useful Websites and Groups
At the Surgery
The surgery has a carers coordinator, Sandra Spindler, who is available to speak to from Monday-Friday between 09:30-14:00.
The surgery is also involved with NHS England’s incentive called ‘NHSE Patients in Control’. This is for patients and carers who wish to take more control of their health and wellbeing.