Making Every Contact Count for Carers

1. Making Every Contact Count for Carers Carole Whittle Information Services Manager

2. Who are Carers?

3. Carer Statistics • Estimated 139 400 in Hertfordshire in 2012 • Predicted to rise to 148 900 by 2020 • 74% are of working age with 65% between 35 and 64 • In 2001 about 42% were male and 58% female. • 54% of carers combine caring with paid employment.

4. Hidden There's a secret society that still dares not speak its name. Yet 5.8 million people in Britain - that's one in eight of us - are members. Welcome to the world of the carer

5. Found Now over 1 200 adult carers per month: • Word of mouth • Social Care staff • GP’s • Other voluntary organisations

6. Still More to Find Future Plans: More carers reached earlier in their caring journey: • Working with Clinical Commissioning Groups and RGCP • Carer friendly community pilot - Stevenage? • Healthy Living Pharmacies?

7. Isolated I think the hardest thing to accept when something like this happens to you is the fact that you feel alone in dealing with what you have to deal with. I will stay strong as long as I have to for my husband but I just wish that someone else could help shoulder the pain.

8. Supported • Information and Carer Planning delivered by staff who understand the demands of caring. • Peer led support groups • Mentoring – currently dementia carers only • Events to meet other carers • Information and stories in Carewaves that let carers know they are not alone

9. Always Responsible Lady Pitkeathley once voiced the carers' paradox – that they feel obliged to care but not to be cared for. Everyone needs a break, don't they: but who takes over care for the carer when the carer's not there?

10. Able to take a break • Information and support to access services that can lead to a break: Crossroads, Carers assessment, community care services and Telecare. • Make a Difference for Carers • Courses: Caring with Confidence, reading groups, photography, creative writing

11. Neglecting Their Own Health I'm just exhausted, no other word for how I'm feeling .... apart from the fact I'm pretty sure I have osteoarthritis pretty badly in my right foot and I'm avoiding doing much about it because I just don't seem to be able to find the time or energy to go to the docs.

12. Healthier • Staff who ask the important question- How are You! • Using validated Patient reported outcome tools and encouraging carers to act on the results. • Courses in back awareness • Encouraging carers to register with GP’s for: • Health checks • Flu vaccination • Could we work with pharmacies too?

13. Young Carers The thing is about exams is that they're stressful for everyone, but I get so frustrated when I can't revise at home because I have to console my Mum or clean the house or something. None of my friends have to do those sorts of things and yet they still moan!

14. Reduce Inappropriate Caring • Support Advisors work with whole family: • Assess the impact of caring • Reduce any negative impacts of caring • Ensure young carer is able to have same opportunities as their peers. • Refer to Targeted and specialist services if required • Provide trips and activities for young carers • An opportunity to meet other young carers • A break away from caring with people that understand

15. Young Adult Carers I'm currently awaiting my A level results and should be going to University in September, although I am really worried about leaving. I live alone with my mum, she is being treated for depression at the moment. Although she refuses outside help….. Nobody gets to see what it is really like. I don't think she could cope on her own. I do the cooking, the cleaning, the gardening, the washing. Some days she will just sit in silence and cry, I can't leave her like this. I know it is selfish, but I don't really want to stay either, I would like to go to uni. Kirstie

16. The forgotten generation? • Currently very few identify • Often use technology for support • An area in need of development

17. Financial Impact I feel like I'm watching my life go down the drain. Before all this happened we were not wealthy, but we had sensibly managed our money and could see that once our children left home we would be able to increase our retirement savings and pay off our home for a simple, but satisfying retirement. Now it's frightening how much debt we are carrying and how little we are bringing in. I wake up at night worried sick about finances.

18. Reduce the Financial Impact • Information and referral to expert advice to ensure access full benefit entitlement. • Information and support about right to request flexible working to maintain employment • Referral to carer champions for support returning to work via Job Centre Plus • Courses and learning as a first step in returning to employment

19. Respected MP "I would like also to take this opportunity to recognise the outstanding work that Britain’s six millions carers do” Carer What help have we seen, we are recognised in a sentence in a newspaper but what have we seen?

20. Heard and Responded To • Visits to Parliament and opportunities to discuss with MP’s the issues that matter. • Opportunities to meet local decision makers and have a voice • Able to co-design services that affect them and those they care for: • Within Carers in Hertfordshire • With key strategic partners • In pharmacies? • Medicines management • Healthy living priorities

21. Post Caring Void Mabel, she used to come in.. every other Wednesday to have a cup of tea and a biscuit with Bella and a natter. But you see when Bella passed away she came in once after that, you know, like your sitting there, and then that finished….. And that stopped you see.

22. A Life After Caring • Support for three years after bereavement • Full access to Learning and development courses • Bereavement service including telephone support and bereavement group.

23. Contact Information • Telephone: 01992 586 969 • Email: contact@carersinherts.org.uk • Website: www.carersinherts.org.uk