Support services for carers
If you're a carer, you might be able to arrange short or long term alternative care for the person you care for. Local support groups for carers meet in different areas. The local Trust can tell you about support groups and if there is any help available in your area.
Day-to-day support services
Day-to-day support services, available from your local Health and Social Care Trust, could allow you to go to work or take a break during the day.
These services can also help you when the person you care for needs specialist care or a significant amount of looking after.
Often the Trust may work with charities or other organisations to:
- provide support at day centres
- arrange home care help
- find a more suitable home for the person you care for
- provide residential care
Your Trust may have a list of local carers' groups.
Contact the carer coordinator in your Trust to find out what's available.
Day care centres
Day care centres offer different care services for people with disabilities.
If the person you care for goes to a day centre, this can be a break for you and them.
Your local Trust must arrange this if the needs assessment of the person you care for states that day centre visits are part of the support they and you receive.
Help at home
Home care workers can do different roles that help you care for someone.
Home help assistants can:
- clean
- shop
- prepare meals
Domiciliary care workers provide 'personal care', for example helping someone go to the toilet or get washed and dressed.
You might be able to employ people to help with care at home on your own.
You should ask the local Trust for advice.
Residential care and nursing homes
Residential care and nursing homes are for people who cannot cope at home and need support with their care.
To let you have a break, the person you care for could get a short-term stay in a home.
Trusts, private companies and voluntary organisations run residential care and nursing homes.
Other support services for carers
There are other services and facilities that can help you care for the person and promote their independence.
These include schemes to help with transport, including:
To find information about support organisations, go to:
NIE Critical Care Register
The Northern Ireland Electricity (NIE) Critical Care Register offers a critical care information service to customers who are dependent on life supporting electrical equipment
When registered with NIE’s Critical Care Service, you will receive accurate information by telephone during a power cut or a planned interruption.
You can also give NIE details of a relative, neighbour or friend as an alternative, if they are unable to make direct contact with you.
If you phone NIE as a registered critical care customer, they will recognise your number and your call will get priority.
You can join the Critical Care Register online or download a form from the NIE website and return it by post.