Caring for our CareGivers

Published: 01/01/2022

Advice and Support for Carers in South Cheshire

Valuing the role of Carers

The last 2 years have been extremely difficult for us all and the Coronavirus pandemic has cast a spotlight on the care sector like never before and our CareGivers have been a pillar of strength for our community. They have kept their Clients safe and well-cared for at home. It has been fantastic to see the nations response to the care sector, shown by the weekly Clap for Carers in Summer 2020, and there has never been a greater appreciation for the fantastic work our Carers do.

Delivering homecare, as a CareGiver, is an incredibly rewarding job but it also comes with its challenges. This has been more noticeable during the pandemic. Here at Right at Home South Cheshire, the wellbeing of our CareGivers is an absolute priority. We care for our CareGivers in the same way they care for our Clients. 

Caring for a loved one full time can be challenging for many family Carers, as they do not have the same support system as paid Carers. If you've been a full-time family caregiver for many years or you're a young Carer, you may have taken on this role suddenly. 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility every day, or over 2 million people each year, according to national charity Carers UK. A Carer's own mental health and wellbeing can suffer if they do not have the right support in place.
What is Right at Home doing to support family Carers in South Cheshire?

At Right at Home South Cheshire we aim to make a genuine difference to the quality of life of those we serve in the local community. We focus on improving the lives of those we care for, not just maintaining quality of life.

We firmly believe that to provide an excellent service, you need time. That's why we have a preferred minimum visit time of one hour, enabling both our CareGivers and Clients to have a positive experience that allows not only time for support to be provided where it is needed, but also to have a conversation and allow for social interaction. This is where we believe we can truly "make a difference every day" to the lives of our Clients.

For many family Carers in South Cheshire, our respite homecare services provide them with peace of mind that their loved one is in safe hands whilst they take a well-deserved break. For some Clients, we provide one hour of home respite care per day whilst their full-time Carer walks the family dog or pops to the shops. For other Clients, we provide a full day of care once a week, so family Carers can have a full day to rest and recharge their batteries, away from their caring duties.

Carer's Allowance

You may be entitled to Carer's Allowance if you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more. There is a possibility you could receive £67.60 a week, though it is dependent on whether the person you care for receives a benefit such as Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance. It is important to note that you do not have to live with or be related to the person you care for. Visit the Government website to learn more about Carer's Allowance.

How is Carer's Allowance paid?

If you are eligible for Carer’s Allowance, you can choose to be paid every four weeks, or weekly in advance. It will be paid into an account, for example your bank account.

What other Carer discounts or benefits am I entitled to?

For every week that you receive Carer’s Allowance, you will automatically get National Insurance credits. You may also be able to apply for other things like a Council Tax Reduction. Take a look at the Government’s website for full details on what discounts or benefits are available for Carers.

The Right at Home Adult Day Centre offers a safe, friendly and relaxing place for seniors and adults with physical disabilities to visit for the day and enjoy social interaction, freshly prepared food, games, activities and much more.