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Urgent Help

If you or a loved one are in a critical or life-threatening situation you should call 999 straight away.

If you are in a non-life threating situation you should contact your GP who will be able to advise you what to do.

NHS 111 offer advice when it’s not an emergency but you need medical help fast. To call them dial 111.

Carers Information

Many carers report several positive effects of caring including: improvements in psychological well-being, personal fulfilment and physical health. However, research shows that providing unpaid care is associated with negative impacts on carers’ education, employment, household finances, health and wellbeing, and personal and social relationships.

Therefore, due to the number of challenge’s carers may face, it’s important to provide support to these individuals. Below are a list of resources and services that can provide additional help:

Charities/ Support Groups

There are multiple charities and support groups available for carers all over the country. They provide a range of services and information for carers, and can be a great source of comfort for many. There are also more local charities within and around Cumbria that are listed below.

Charities/ Support Groups within Cumbria

West Cumbria Carers

West Cumbria Carers provides support to carers who look after a family member, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help. The organisation provides services to carers in the districts of Allerdale and Copeland.

They offer:

  • Telephone conversations
  • Short term support
  • Counselling
  • Social events and activities

www.westcumbriacarers.co.uk/

Tel: 01900 821 976

Carlisle Carers

They provide a range of services to support and enhance the lives of unpaid carers of all ages throughout the city and the north east of Cumbria -Statutory Carers assessments and reviews.

They offer:

  • 1-2-1 or group based support
  • Peer support
  • Support to take a break
  • Information, advice and guidance
  • Access to a 24 hour CHAT Line delivered by other Carers
  • Support to access community, health and wellbeing services
  • Additional support for the person who is being cared for (eg Respite Care)

https://www.n-compass.org.uk/our-services/carers/carlisle-carers

Tel: 01228 542156

Eden Carers

We have experienced Generic Support Coordinators most of whom have qualifications such as Social Work, Occupational Therapy and Child, Young Person and Family Studies degrees.

Types of support:

  • Support groups
  • Sitting service

www.edencarers.co.uk/

Tel: 01768 890280

Age UK West Cumbria

We believe in a world where everyone can love later life. Age UK is here to inspire, enable and support older people to help people make the most of later life.

Types of services:

  • Day support services
  • Community groups
  • Help line

www.ageuk.org.uk/westcumbria/

Tel: 08443 843 843

Adult Social Care

Part of Cumbria County Council and they provide a range of different services to support the population of Cumbria, this includes carers. Type of services/care formulated through an assessment.

  • Allerdale

Tel: 0300 303 3589

Email:workingtonssd@cumbria.gov.uk

  • Carlisle

Tel: 0300 303 3249

Email:carlislessd@cumbria.gov.uk

  • Copeland

Tel: 0300 303 3589

Email:whitehavenssd@cumbria.gov.uk

Emotional Support

We understand that caring for an individual can be very difficult and emotionally challenging. There are multiple resources and services that can provide support to you and help you with the demands you face psychologically in being an informal carer.

Hospice at Home- https://www.hospiceathome.co.uk/about-us/family-support/

How caring can affect your relationship

Becoming a carer can alter your relationship with the individual in various ways. This can add to the difficulty of caring for this person, and can affect your mental wellbeing also. There are multiple websites that offer guidance on how your relationship may change and how best to adapt to this.

Financial Support for carers

There are financial aids on offer to help you with caring for a family member, friend or acquaintance. Below are listed websites and telephone numbers you can use to access information about finances and what you are eligible to.

Citizens Advice Allerdale

Tel: 01900 604735

Citizens Advice Carlisle and Eden

Tel: 0344 411 1444

What to do if you can’t offer care anymore

Circumstances can change often and you may find yourself unable to care for the individual anymore or they no longer require your care. In this instance, there are various options available to you, detailed below.

If you attend your GP surgery and you are going to be admitted by your GP/Nurse to hospital, please inform GP/Nurse that you are a carer for someone and they will be able to support you to arrange temporary care whilst you are unable too.

If the person you care for has a social worker then contact them and inform them you are unable to provide care at this time. You can also call Adult Social Care and inform them of the situation and they may be able to offer you support and advice around what are next best steps to take to get the care they need whilst you are unable too.

Professional Carers (to add to ‘what to do if you can’t offer care anymore)