A carers’ assessment offers you the opportunity to discuss with social care about the services available that can make caring easier for you or help you if you are no longer able to care.
Why bother having an assessment?
An assessment could help you in many ways, including
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Letting your voice be heard in any decisions the person you care for may make about getting services in the future
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Advice about benefits and managing your finances
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Caring services to help share the caring
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Services to give you a break from caring
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Help with any health problems you may have
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Someone to talk to about your situation
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Advice and solutions to balancing caring with your life, work and family commitments
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Contact with other carers in similar positions to yourself
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Information about the condition and treatments for the person you care for
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Equipment or adaptations in the home of the person you care for to make caring for them physically easier for you
Getting a carers’ assessment
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Ask for an assessment, if you are looking after an adult call 0113 222 4401, child 222 4403 and adult with mental health issues 275 8721
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Your request will be passed to the team who cover your address and they will contact you directly to arrange the assessment
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The assessor will meet with you to find out about the amount of caring you do (such as support and encouragement as well as practical or physical help) and discuss the services available to support you in caring
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Leeds social care will identify which services would support your needs and help maintain your own wellbeing
Planning for an assessment
You might want to think about the following
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Do you get enough sleep?
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Is your health affected in any way?
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Are you able to get out and about?
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Do you get time for yourself?
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Are your other relationships affected?
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Do you want information about benefits?
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Are you worried you may have to give up work?
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Is the person you care for getting enough help?
Please also have a think about what you need to begin, continue, restart or stop care giving. For example, older carers may have concerns about what will happen after their own deaths to the person they care for.
Costs
The assessment is free of charge. The cared for person may be charged for some support services provided to them, however their financial assessment will not include your income as a carer.