Advice for carers
About caring
A carer is someone who looks after a partner, relative, or someone else close who needs support because they are ill, frail or disabled.
You do not have to be looking after someone with a physical health problem to be a carer. You might be looking after someone with a mental health problem, an alcohol or drug dependency, or dementia. There are many different ways of being a carer.
Life as a carer can be very hard work, and it is important to have regular periods of rest, relaxation and ‘me time’. As a carer you should be able to have your own life too.
In this section there are some organisations that can help you discover what is out there for you.
Financial advice for carers
- Benefits enquiry line
Contact details
Address: 2nd Floor
Red Rose House
Lancaster Road
Preston
Lancashire
PR1 1HB
Freephone:0800 882 200
Text phone: 0800 243 355
Local support groups, organisations and leaflets for carers
- Alzheimer's Society
Carer's and former carer's support group. Brighton & Hove branch delivers all around support to local people affected by dementia.
Contact details
Telephone: 01273 726266
Email: brighton-hove@alzheimers.org.uk - Amaze
Amaze gives information, advice and support to parents of children with special needs and disabilities in Brighton & Hove. They work to empower parents to help their children live fully socially-included lives. - Back Care Service
The Daily Living Centre back care service provides back protection advice, support and, where possible, equipment to carers of adults and children in Brighton and Hove, to assist with the safe moving and handling of the person they care for.
Contact details
Address:
The Daily Living Centre
Montague House
Montague Place
Kemp Town
Brighton
BN2 1JE
Telephone: 01273 296132 - Brighton and Hove emergency back-up scheme for carers
In an emergency the scheme provides alternate home-based care for up to 48 hours.
Contact details
Address: Emergency Back-Up Scheme
c/o Access Point
3rd Floor
Bartholomew House
Bartholomew Square
Brighton BN1 1JP
Telephone: Access Point - 01273 295555 - Carer's Needs Assessments
If you regularly provide a substantial amount of care to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour you have the legal right to ask social services to carry out a carer's needs assessment. - Carers Direct
Information, support and advice for carers.
Contact details
Telephone: 0808 802 0202 - Looking after Me
This is a free course for adults who care for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability. The course is about you making time to look after your own health needs. It aims to help you to take more control of your situation and make a difference to your life. - Brighton Crossroads - Caring for carers
Crossroads helps and supports people who care for a disabled, ill or elderly person at home.
Contact details
Telephone: 01273 234021
Email: office@brightoncrossroads.org.uk
- Crossroads
Trained care workers who help with caring tasks - giving the carer an essential break. - Community Base
A base for community and voluntary groups in Brighton and Hove. - How to find a counsellor in Brighton and Hove
Finding a therapist registered with The British Association for Counselling & Psychotherapy. - Patched
PATCHED offers support and services for the families, friends and carers of substance misusers or anyone in the local community experiencing the effects of someone else’s drug or alcohol problem. - The Carers Centre - Brighton and Hove
The Carers Centre for Brighton & Hove is a local charity which supports anyone caring for a partner, relative or friend who needs help because of an illness or disability.
Contact details
Address: Carers' Centre for Brighton and Hove
Community Base
113 Queens Road
Brighton BN1 3XG
Telephone: 01273 234045
Information leaflets
- Are you entitled to help from Adult Social Care Services? (PDF 726kb)
- A Commitment to Carers
A leaflet outlining help for relatives, partners and friends of people with a mental health problem. - Caring for Children with Special Needs
A variety of leaflets & factsheets covering caring for children with special needs produced by the charity AMAZE. - CareLink alarm (392kb PDF file)
This leaflet is a guide to the CareLink emergency alarm system that helps older, disabled or any other vulnerable people feel safer in their homes. - CareLink Brighton and Hove telecare (89kb PDF file)
An information leaflet for service users, carers and health and social care staff in Brighton and Hove - Emergency back-up scheme leaflet (217kb PDF file)
A leaflet to explain the emergency back-up scheme, which aims to give some peace of mind to carers of a disabled relative or friend and parents or carers of disabled children. - Healthy Living Guide (50+) (PDF 904kb).
- The Carers Centre - Bereavement services (176kb PDF file)
This leaflet provides a handy guide to local services that help the recently bereaved. - Where to get help and advice (PDF 2.48Mb)
Mental health leaflets
- Carers and Confidentiality in Mental Health (PDF 111kb)
Issues involved in information-sharing plus good practice checklist. - A Checklist for Carers Of People with Mental Health Problems (PDF 85kb)
Working in partnership with psychiatrists and carers, designed to help carers get the information about diagnosis and treatment for the person they care for.
Stroke leaflets
- Care After Stroke and Transient Ischaemic Attack (PDF 139kb)
Information for patients and their carers, including national support groups
National support groups, organisations and leaflets for carers
- NHS Choices - Carers Direct
Information, support and advice for carers - The Princess Royal Trust for Carers
Providing support, information and advice for carers.
Contact details
Telephone: 0844 800 4361 - Young Carers
A Princes Royal Trust Scheme providing support, information and advice for young carers nationwide.
Contact details
Telephone: 0844 800 4361
- Carers needs assesment
How to apply for an assessment, if you regularly provide a substantial amount of care to a relative, partner, friend or neighbour. - Carers UK
Carers UK is an organisation of carers, who work to ensure that carers get the practical, financial and emotional support they need. - Can you stop the person you care for from being scammed? (509kb PDF file)
A leaflet for carers and care professionals.
Being cared for
For information on services for those in need of care, see our page on Social Services.
Providing you with information to help you and your family live longer, healthier, more comfortable lives