2.4 - Types of Support Available

If you or someone you know is exhibiting signs of carer stress, it is important to seek help. The person under stress should go to the doctor for regular check-ups.

Encourage them to ask family members and friends for their help and support. This can sometimes take the form of a simple visit that allows somebody to get out of the house for a short time.

Another way is to encourage them to engage in community programs that provide respite and relief from caregiving, practical help with meals or housework and assistance with the care of the person with Dementia. Their doctor can usually advise about these or people can contact their local council and they will provide details.

Carer centres are independent charities that offer practical support, advice and information for carer either by phone, drop-in or outreach surgeries in Scotland local area such as the Dundee Carers Centre.

Carer centres can provide support and training to carer in:

information and advice on benefits, financial planning, respite and support services, advocacy, support under the Carers Act, aids and adaptions.
emotional support you can talk with trained staff, volunteers and other carers who understand your situation .
community consultation on local, regional and national decision-making .
activities for carers including time out from caring, breaks, relaxation therapies, and the opportunity to enjoy your own social life .
guidance on self-protection from harm, stress and depression.

The video below summarised help that carer can get at a carer centre.

There are a number of things that carer support groups will encourage but you can also support carers to do some of these things and try to reduce the stress that they may be feeling.

Examples of available support include:

Support groups
Getting breaks – support can be provided for the person with dementia to allow the carer to have a couple of days respite
Family and friends may be able to help.
GP or social services can arrange assessment for respite care or routine relief.
Eating well and getting regular exercise – both for carers and the person with dementia.
Sleep - advise people to discuss with their GP if having difficulties sleeping either for practical or mental reasons.
Mood - encourage relatives to seek help from their GP if feeling low, depressed, anxious or if they feel they are struggling to cope.

Many people do not access the support available because they do not know that it is there, or often people do not feel that they are a “carer” as they are just taking care of their partner and that is what they should do.

The first step can often be encouraging people to access support and in Scotland, everyone with caring responsibilities is entitled to a Carer’s Assessment from the local authority that will identify any help and support that can be provided.

A carer's assessment might recommend things like:

someone to take over caring so you can take a break
training in how to lift safely
help with housework and shopping
putting you in touch with local support groups so you have people to talk to

Remember that a carer's assessment is free and anyone over 18 can ask for one.

In the early stages of dementia, many people are able to enjoy life in the same way as before their diagnosis.

But as symptoms get worse, the person may feel anxious, stressed and scared at not being able to remember things, follow conversations or concentrate.

It's important to support the person to maintain skills, abilities and an active social life. This can also help how they feel about themselves so it is essential that the person caring for them has all the support available to allow them to make the most of the time they have with the person that they love.