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Looking after your health
The unpredictability of Parkinson’s can make
it easy to ignore your own quality of life and health. Support is
available primarily from your GP, and as a carer you will be given
special consideration because of your role and the pressures you
may experience.
Many GP surgeries have a ‘carer’s register’.
This enables surgery staff to identify carers and those being cared
for. It can be helpful in ensuring carers get the services they
need without having to repeatedly tell everyone about their caring
role. If you would like to find out more, contact your surgery and
ask about the register.
There are also many ways to help yourself,
with gentle exercise, hobbies and social activities. It is easy to
put off making time for yourself when you are a carer, however it
is helpful to make the time to relax.
Know your rights
Carers can benefit from
recognising their own needs. The local authority, usually through
social services, provides support for carers. These include those
that can give you a break from caring, advice and information, or
equipment and adaptations to make activities easier to manage.
Under the
Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 you have the
right to have your needs assessed by the local authority to find
out what suitable support is available. This is called a
‘carer’s assessment’.
The person you care for is also entitled to an
assessment, called a ‘care needs assessment’. This is to assess
what support is available to promote their wellbeing and
independence. However, you can have your needs assessed even if the
person you care for does not have an assessment themselves.
To request either or both assessments, contact
your local social services department, which will be listed in the
phone book. Assessments are free, however, there may be a financial
assessment to decide if there would be a charge for some services.
This depends on your individual circumstances and local
criteria.
Having an assessment can result in support
that is beneficial to both you and the person with Parkinson’s,
equipment to make life easier, breaks from caring, and information
about wider services and groups that may be helpful. Examples
of support that is available include help with household tasks,
personal care, meals, and respite services.
The aim of respite is to give the carer a
break from their caring role, and social stimulation for the person
with Parkinson’s. Respite may take the form of a sitting service,
day care or planned breaks to a facility with care
services. Equipment can help to promote the independence of
the person with Parkinson’s, maintain their safety, and reduce the
need for carers to undertake tasks that may be difficult and unsafe
for them to manage, for example helping the person you care for in
and out of the bath.
Voluntary organisations
Charities and other voluntary groups exist to
support people who are carers, and those they care for. Social
services will have information on these groups, some will be listed
in the phone book, and others will be advertised locally. These
groups are good sources of information, support and sometimes offer
social events.
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