I care for someone with...

 

PHYSICAL DISABILITY/ILLNESS

 

Caring for someone with a physical disability or illness can be a very challenging responsibility. In this section we look at some of the major conditions, and signpost you through to the most appropriate information and advice on the web.

We also examine some of the more common issues those caring for someone with a physical disability face: transport and mobility, housing, aids and equipment, coping with your caring role, home care services and benefits.

Your local Carers' Service, GP, Local Authority (Social Services) or other support organisations should be able to help you with some of the care issues you have. In particular, it is your local authority's responsibility to provide assessments for the person being cared for, to offer help at home and potentially provide respite care.

 

LEARNING DISABILITY

If you care for a person with a learning disability, whether it’s your son or daughter, brother or sister, parent, partner or other relative or friend, these pages are for you. Here you'll find some general advice as well as useful information on caring for someone with a learning disability, which aims to make the challenges faced by family Carers a little easier.

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MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS

 

Mental ill-health affects one in four of us at some point in our lives and can cover a range of conditions, from the mild to the severe. Depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, obsessions, phobias, as well as misuse of alcohol and drugs are just a few of the most common mental health problems.

Mental health conditions can leave sufferers confused and isolated, in turn leading to profound feelings of despair and even thoughts of suicide and self-harm.

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ALZHEIMER'S AND DEMENTIA

 

There are an estimated 670,000 primary Carers (family and friends supporting someone who may otherwise not be able to manage on their own) of people with dementia in the UK. The current cost of dementia to local authorities and families is £23bn a year. The majority of people with dementia are cared for at home by a relative or friend and the average age of a family carer is between 60 and 65 years old.

ELDERLY

 

These days we can expect to live longer. However, whilst the older generation can, on the whole, look forward to longer years of good health than before, three-quarters of people aged 65 and over report living with a major illness. As we age we are more susceptible to a host of illnesses, some of the most common including arthritis, Alzheimer's Disease, dementia, osteoporosis, strokes and other cardiac conditions. But help is on hand for all Carers trying to give the person they care for an active, happy and healthy lifestyle as possible in later life.

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