Looking after yourself as a carer
As a carer, it is important that you take care of your own physical and mental health, even if you are busy looking after someone else's health. This includes taking time out for yourself. Being healthy means that you are better placed to carry out your caring role.
Your doctor
Your GP is a good starting point to get information and support.
Your doctor may not know that you are a carer, so make sure that you tell them.
Talk through any issues you have, especially if you are experiencing stress or anxiety.
Your doctor can be one route to social services, counselling and organisations that may be able to help.
When making an appointment, ask for extra time with your doctor to talk through matters.
Make a list of questions beforehand to help the doctor understand the concerns you have about your own health and that of the person you care for.
If you find it difficult to get to the doctor because it's hard to leave the person you care for on their own, ask for a home visit.
It may also be possible to make other arrangements like prescriptions being delivered to your door. Ask if this can be arranged between your doctor and your pharmacist, if necessary.
Your Health and Social Care Trust
Your Health and Social Care Trust is responsible for providing services to help carers.
This could be a service to help you cope at home, like a home help, or a day centre for the person you care for, allowing you to take a break from your caring role.
To find out if you are entitled to services and what support would help you best, the trust needs to carry out a carer's assessment.
Find out more about support services available at:
Time out from caring
Everybody needs time to themselves for their own wellbeing, but as a carer this can be hard. There are options you may wish to consider.
Ask for help from family or friends
If you are comfortable with the idea, ask family, friends or perhaps a neighbour to provide a small amount of care.
This could be a couple of hours a week to give you time to relax or catch up on seeing friends.
A local care group may be able to provide half a day's care a few times a month.
There are carers' groups in many parts of the country.
Some areas have carers workers whose job is to co-ordinate groups and get support for people.
Short-term care
Some Health and Social Care (HSC) Trusts provide different services to give carers a break.
The same services aren't available in all areas and there might be a waiting time for some services.
Trusts can arrange:
- a day-sitting service for shopping, visiting friends and other activities
- a night-sitting service to allow a carer to get a full night's sleep
- a short-term stay in a care home for the person you care for
- time in a day centre for the person being cared for
- an opportunity for the person being cared for to go out with others, allowing you time to yourself at home
- Health and Social Care Trusts
- Temporary stays in a residential care or nursing home
Short-term breaks
Your HSC Trust may work with voluntary organisations or charities and involve specialist short-break providers to offer you a break.
A short-term break doesn't necessarily mean going away from home.
You and the person you care for may want to stay together during a break - or you may not.
What's important is that you and the person you care for are happy with any arrangements that are made.