A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a family member or friend who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, cannot cope without their support.

Carers may even be juggling paid work with their unpaid caring responsibilities at home. The term carer should not be confused with a care worker, or care assistant, who receives payment for looking after someone.

If you are a carer, Bikur Cholim may be able to help make things easier for you.

 

The following services are available for carers:

Our peer support groups are a safe space for carers to meet other carers in similar circumstances on a regular basis. Our support groups meet regularly in our Support Group room and benefit from sharing information and learning from one another.

Currently we have the following Support Groups:

  • Carers support group for women caring for people with mental health issues
  • Carers Support group for men caring for people with mental health issues
  • Carers Support group for carers of people with Dementia
  • Carers Support group for carers of people with Diabetes

If you would like more information about any of our support groups please contact Reception on 020 8800 7575.

Caring for someone close to you can be satisfying and rewarding. Sometimes caring can make you feel tired, over-loaded, stressed and depressed.  Caring can bring up complex and difficult feelings and family and friends may not always be the best people to talk to.  Counsellors are trained to listen attentively and to help you find your own answers.

You may want to meet with a therapist to discuss any issues you are having in relation to:

  • When you first start looking after someone
  • When you have been caring for a long time, feel exhausted and have your own health problems
  • At times of family crisis such as bereavement, loss of job or housing problems
  • When you are considering ending your role as carer

If you would like more information about our Talking Therapies Service please contact Leah Chontow on 020 8800 7575 or email [email protected].

A Carer’s Assessment is your opportunity to talk about your own needs and the things that could make caring easier for you. You may discuss the kind of care you already provide for the person you are caring for which may include personal care, practical help and emotional support. You may also take this opportunity to address areas of difficulty and identify ways to resolve them with our services and support. This may range from a short break, information about Carer’s support groups so you may meet other carers in a similar situation as yourself, benefits advice, activities for the person who is cared for and so on.

The assessment is a face to face discussion between you and the person carrying out the assessment. A carer may ask for the assessment to be carried out in private away from the person being cared for. If you have had a Carers Assessment, you can request a Review of your needs. You can request a Carers Assessment or a Carers Review even if the person you care for refuses help.

For more information please contact Naomi Spitzer on 020 8800 7575.

Facts & Figures

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Carers supported this year