Who is a Carer?
A carer can be any age and could include someone under 18 (often known as a young carer), or someone who is the parent of a disabled child or young person.
Many people are carers, but find it difficult to see themselves in this role, and do not always wish to be identified as a carer, as for them the caring relationship is simply part of normal everyday life as a son, daughter, husband, wife, parent for example.
As a result, they often don’t realise that there is support available for them as well as the person they care for.
The care they provide may include:
- helping to make meals, or doing housework or shopping
- helping someone to wash and dress, or to eat
- making sure that medication is taken or collected on time
- keeping an eye on someone to keep them safe
- providing emotional support
- reminding them to do things they can no longer remember to do
Darlington Borough Council is committed to supporting carers and carers should always be involved in the assessment of the person they care for and should also be offered an assessment of their own needs as a carer.
If you would like a carer’s assessment to identify your needs, you can complete this online or you can call Adult Social Care on 01325 406111.
More information about the support available for carers can be found can be found in the following leaflets
- information about carers assessments [rich text document]
- carers information sheet – support for carers [rich text document]
- or via Livingwell carer pages [external link]
Or you could contact:
Darlington Carers Support
Carers Support website [external link]
St Teresa's Hospice
91 Woodland Road
Darlington
DL3 7UA
Telephone: 0300 0301215
Darlington Carers Support provides information, support and advice to carers. Through them you can make contact with other carers and receive information about other sources of help.
Carers UK Digital Resource for Carers
The Carers UK Digital Resource for Carers [external link]also provides a range of products and support resources including the Jointly App[external link], e-Learning modules, factsheets, interactive guides, personalised support and information. To create a new account, use the access code DGTL1931 or go to Livingwell [external link] for more information.