Carers Support

Do you provide support to a friend, relative or neighbour who would not manage without it?

You might not think of yourself as a carer and think what you do is just part of being a parent, spouse, friend or sibling.  But if you

  • Are you helping someone with everyday household tasks like shopping, cleaning, cooking, washing or dressing
  • Regularly transport someone to medical appointments
  • Provide emotional or mental health support

you can be considered a carer by doing these things, and there is support available in Dorset specifically for you.

You can access the right support at the right time for you as a carer by taking TWO EASY STEPS. 

a man stood holding the hands of a woman sat in a chair

STEP ONE: Are you a Carer? Let us know by completing and submitting the form below.

Why? Carers are at a much higher risk of becoming ill and it is important that you look after your own health and accept any treatment that you need as, ultimately, you cannot look after someone else without first looking after yourself.  If we know who our patient carers are, we can improve the services we offer to you.

If you care for someone else, please let us know so we may update our medical records.  Follow this link to complete and submit a Carer's Registration form or contact us to let us know.

Tell Us You Are a Carer

Tell Us You Are a Carer

Fill in the form

STEP TWO: Contact Your Local Carer Support Service

Scroll down for information about Carer Support Service in Dorset and how to get in touch with them.

A screenshot of the Bridgit online support tool

Bridgit - the quick and easy online support tool

People who regularly look after a family member or friend can now explore resources to support them using an online tool known as Bridgit.  It's quick and easy way for carers or cared for people  to learn about health conditions, get personal advice and find local events and services.

Brought to you by Dorset Council, Bridgit allows people to explore free well-being, employment, finance and care advice and events, local and national support services and training opportunities. People can also build their own ‘self-care plan’. It’s all available any time of day and without registering first.

While registering as a carer unlocks more support, a listening ear, offers and discounts, we recognise people can be worried about requesting outside help. With Bridgit, people can discover the resources first, then sign up for more support if they choose to, and this can include an online carer’s assessment.

Designed by carers and care experts, Bridgit resources are tailored to the busy and often stressful lives of people who regularly care for others. It is also designed to be user-friendly, with simple navigation and a clean layout so people can explore comfortably, even with limited digital skills.

Visit www.bridgit.care/support/dorset to access the Bridgit tool.  People who prefer not to, or cannot go online, can call contact the Carer Support Dorset team on the phone to discover the free support and help available.  Please scroll down for their contact details. 

Carer Support Dorset

Carers Support Dorset holds the carers register for Dorset Council. They have a range of services that can be tailored to fit your needs as a carer including a phone line, regular training opportunities, events, a befriending service, and specific support for young carers.

 They offer:

  • Phoneline
  • Here to talk
  • Regular newsletters
  • Training
  • Dorset Carers card
  • Events
  • Information Hub
  • Young carers support

For more information, phone 0800 368 8349 or email  admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk

Follow this link to the Carer Support Dorset website for more information>>

Carer Support Dorset logo
Carer Support Dorset Young Carers logo

Are You a Young Carer?

A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who looks after or helps to look after someone. It might be your mum or dad, grandparent, brother or sister or a close relative. This often means doing things like cooking, cleaning, shopping, giving medication or just talking and helping when the person you care about is feeling sad.  School, friends and doing things you enjoy can sometimes be hard to fit in. 

Young people living in Dorset Council area aged under 18 years who are caring for an adult should contact Dorset Direct.  Phone 01305 221000 or email customerservices@dorsetcouncil.gov.uk.  The team will support young people to find the right help for them.

If you look after or help to look after someone, follow this link for Help and Advice for Young Carers>>>

Further Information for Carers

Scroll down for more information about our Carers Group events and other services and sources of information that you may find helpful as a Carer. 

Events for Carers

West Moors Village Surgery Carers monthly group meets on the second Monday of every month between 2pm and 4pm at the Fryer Pavilion, Bond Avenue, West Moors BH22 0LJ. 

For more information, please contact Alison Morrison at the surgery or via email to wm.gp@nhs.net.

 

 

West Moors Monthly Carers Group Meeting poster
a young woman in the background laughing with an older man stood in the foreground. the help and care logo and the words Dementia Coordinator Service

Dementia Coordinator Service

Many people living with Dementia feel that having support along their journey will maximise independent living and prevent a crisis.

The Dementia Coordinator Service, delivered by Help & Care, is committed to supporting people to live well with Dementia.

The service is available to everyone across Dorset, age 18 and over, including support for immediate carers and loved ones.

Once a diagnosis has been confirmed, the Memory Assessment Service will make a referral to a Dementia Coordinator at Dorset Healthcare.   However, Help and Care will accept self-referrals and referrals from GPs and other stakeholders as long as a diagnosis of Dementia is confirmed.

Help and Care work in partnership with Dorset HealthCare University NHS Foundation Trust, NHS Dorset and Age UK, as an integral part of the Dementia Services Pathway for Dorset.

For more information, download and view this Help and Care leaflet>>

Or visit the Help & Care website by following this link>>

Carer Friendly ID Card

A Carer Friendly ID card is available to carers within the Dorset and BCP Council areas. If you are a resident in the Dorset Council area, to receive the new card, you must be registered with Carer Support Dorset. If you already have a carers card this remains valid until its expiry date, so there's no need to switch unless you'd like to. 


This new photo ID card proves you are a carer when you are out and about, provides access to hundreds of local and national discounts on goods and services, records your In Case of Emergency (ICE) contact details, and comes as a physical card and digital download for your phone.

To register for your new card follow this link to the Dorset Carer Friendly Registration page>> You will need your Carer Support Dorset assigned carer ID number. If you're not sure what this is, please call Carer Support Dorset on 0800 368 8349.

You will also need to upload a head and shoulders photo of yourself.  If you need help with completing the form online, your local Digital Champion can help. Call West Moors Library on 01202 873272 to book a FREE session.   

Carers in Hospital

Are you caring or would you like to continue to care for your cared-for person if they were admitted to hospital?

Find out more by following this link to the University Hospitals Dorset website>>

Find out more by following this link to the Dorset HealthCare University website>>

Information from Our Dorset

Our Dorset is a partnership of health and social care organisations working together to deliver Integrated Care Systems.

The vision of Our Dorset is for everyone to have access to high quality, joined-up health and care services, available when and where they are needed.
 
Our Dorset provides useful information for carers through the Dorset Council website.   

Follow this link for more information:>>

 

the Our Dorset logo
A man and a woman nordic walking with the words Social Prescribing can help us with things that can't be fixed by doctors and medicine alone

Social Prescribing and Wellbeing Services

For many people, circumstances beyond the purely medical such as fatigue, grief, isolation, loneliness, finances, or their role as a carer, can affect their health. In addition, long term conditions such as anxiety, depression and pain can give rise to additional worries, issues and needs.
 
Social Prescribing can help with things that can't be fixed by doctors and medicine alone. 
 
There are lots of ways you might be part of Social Prescribing.  It often starts with a conversation, perhaps with one of our GPs who can refer you to someone who can help:  a link worker, support broker or a community navigator. What they are called, they are there to listen to you and put you in touch with the people and activities that might help you to feel better.

At its most basic, a social prescription offers the kind of help that doesn’t come in a tube or a bottle. The idea behind Social Prescribing is to help you have more control over your health and find ways to improve how you feel in a way that suits you. That might mean being introduced to a community group, a new activity or volunteers to help around the house. On the other hand, it might be information and guidance:  a bit of inside knowledge on your situation and what local resources are available.It could even be some support to create something new such as a fishing group or gardening club. 
 
For more information about Social Prescribing, visit the Crane Valley Primary Care Network Social Prescribing page by following this link:>>

The Dementia Adventure Team

There are over 900,000 people living with dementia in the UK, and nearly 750,000 caring for them at home.

 
While we wait for a cure, Dementia Adventure want to support as many of those people to live active and fulfilled lives.
 
The Dementia Adventure Team support people to access these benefits through training for families, supported holidays, organisational training and research.
 

NHS LINKS

There is a wealth of information on the NHS website about carers and caring. Below are some links into the site that we hope you will find useful.

Finance and Law

Help claiming benefits, looking after your bank balance and understanding the legal issues of caring.

  • Benefits for carers

    Directing carers to the benefits that can help them in their caring role

  • Benefits for the under-65s

    Advice and information on helping the person you look after get the benefits that they are entitled to.

    Benefits for the over-65s

    Advice and information on financial support for older people with a disability or illness.

  • Carer's Assement

    How your benefits maybe affected after the death of the person you look after and what happens to their benefits

  • Other benefits

    Advice for carers and the people they are looking after on claiming a whole host of other benefits unrelated to their disability or caring

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