Support for Carers

Carers make a vital contribution to society by giving their time and energy to care for a family member, friend or neighbour. Many people with care and support needs rely on their carer to help keep them independent in their own homes for as long as possible.

Looking after someone can be tiring, stressful and take up a lot of your time. It can often end up affecting your own health, wellbeing and independence. However much you care about the person you're looking after, it's important that you also look after yourself.

Who is a carer?

A carer is someone who supports and cares for another person that would not be able to manage on their own. For example a carer will support someone with washing, dressing, eating, taking them to regular appointments or offering emotional support.  

You may provide support to someone for a few hours a week or round the clock depending on the level of care needs of the person you are caring for. The person who requires support may need help due to mental illness, disability, health conditions, age or substance misuse problems.

What is the Rochdale Carers Hub?

The Carers Hub is a single point of access for all young and adult carers who care for Rochdale Borough residents.

The Carers Hub has been developed to make sure that carers of all ages have access to information, advice and a wide range of support services which will support them to continue in their caring role.

Once you have made contact with the Carers Hub, they will arrange for you to meet with a dedicated Carers Support worker. The Carers Support worker will get to know you and understand your needs as a carer and will work with you to create a support plan to help meet your needs, such as:

  • 1-2-1 support
  • Group support
  • Peer support
  • Support to take a break, including access to a volunteer sitting service
  • Information, advice and guidance
  • Support to access the community, health and wellbeing services
  • Access to activities, training and much more

Contact the Carers Hub

Telephone: 0345 0138 208 Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm.

Email: enquiries@rochdalecarers.co.uk

Address: The Carers Hub, Lock 50 Business Centre, Oldham Road, Rochdale, OL16 5RD. 

Caring for someone with dementia

Living with dementia can have a big emotional, social, psychological and practical impact on a person. Many people with dementia describe these impacts as a series of losses and adjusting to them is challenging.

When supporting someone with dementia, it can be helpful for the carer to have an understanding of the impact of the condition, including how the person might think and feel, as this will affect how they behave. They may be experiencing a world that's very different to that of others around them. It will help if the carer offers support while trying to see things from the perspective of the person with dementia, as far as possible.

The Alzheimer’s Society have created a dementia guide that you can download by visiting Alzheimer's Society website

The Alzheimer’s Society also has a Carer Information and Support Programme (CrISP) this gives an opportunity for carers to talk in a friendly and confidential environment about their experiences and the impact that caring can have. It also gives information on local services, more information on caring for someone with dementia, and advice on legal and financial issues and planning for the future.

The CrISP sessions are held at community venues throughout the Borough of Rochdale area including central Rochdale, Middleton, Heywood and Pennines (including Littleborough and Milnrow).

If you would like to find out more about CrISP and book a place on a future programme or you would like to discuss options for getting to them, contact Dementia Support Worker/CrISP coordinator Alison Roberts contact details below.

Telephone: 07809 349671 

Email: Alison.Roberts@alzheimers.org.uk

Where is my local Memory Wellbeing Café?

The Memory Wellbeing Cafés are social meeting places for people living with dementia, their carers, family and friends.  They give people affected by dementia an opportunity to get together to share experiences, learn from each other and enjoy a social activity. They're also a great place to get information about local services and the support that's available for people living with dementia, their carers and family members.

The cafés aim to be a friendly and informal environment where you can have as little or as much involvement as you like.

Where is my local Memory Wellbeing Café?

Milnrow Memory Wellbeing Café
First Tuesday of every month 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Butterworth Hall, New Street
Milnrow, Rochdale OL16 3PE

Middleton Memory Wellbeing Café
Second Wednesday of every month 1.30pm to 3.30pm
D'Oliveira Court, Wood Street
Middleton M24 5QU

Heywood Memory Wellbeing Café
Third Friday of every month 1.30pm to 3.30pm
Roeacre Court, York Street
Heywood OL10 4NF

Carers Support Group (for carers only)
Last Wednesday of every month 1.30pm to 3.30pm
St Andrews Church, Entwisle Road
Rochdale OL16 2HZ.

What is the carers eligibility criteria?

The national guidelines advise that a carer is entitled to support from the council if they meet all 3 of the following criteria:
  
 1. The carers need for support arises because they are providing necessary care and support for another adult - for example, help with eating/drinking, meals preparation, personal care, toileting, dressing, getting up and about, and cleaning.


 2. The carer cannot achieve one or more of the outcomes listed below:

  • Carry on caring for a child
  • Continue to provide care to persons for whom the carer provides care - for example, their children
  • Maintain a habitable home environment in the carers home, whether or not this is also the home of the adult needing care
  • Manage and maintain nutrition
  • Maintain family/personal relationships
  • Engage in work, training, volunteering and education
  • Use facilities or services in the local communities - for example, leisure centers, community groups
  • Engage in recreational activities


 3. As a result of not being able to achieve one or more outcome, there is likely to be a significant effect on the carers own wellbeing.  Wellbeing is simply defined as feeling good and functioning well.

What is a carers assessment and how can I apply for one?

A carers assessment is designed to support Rochdale Adult Care staff to ensure that you meet the carers eligibility criteria and to consider the different ways your caring role affects your life and work out how you can best carry on doing the things that are important to you and your family. Your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing will be at the heart of the carers assessment.

Following your carers assessment, you may be entitled to:

  • A carers personal budget to be spent on things that make your caring role easier, for example, gym membership to help maintain your wellbeing.  
  • Practical support - for example, arranging for someone to step in when you need a short break - this is known as respite or a carers break.
  • You could be put in touch with local groups that can offer support, so you have people to talk to, who are in similar caring roles.

To apply for a carers assessment you can contact Rochdale Adult Care:

Telephone: 0300 303 8886 Monday to Friday 8.30am to 4.45pm

Email: adult.care@rochdale.gov.uk

What is a carers personal budget?

Following a carers assessment the council will decide if a carer's needs can be met with a carers personal budget.

A carers personal budget is a payment that the council will give to a carer to help make their caring role a little easier. It gives the carer a greater choice and helps them take control over how their needs are met.

The carers personal budget can be anything up to £250. This is a payment that will be paid by the council once in a twelve month period, and only if you have been assessed and are eligible.

What can the carers personal budget be spent on?

Here are a few examples of what the carer can spend the personal budget on:

  • Gym/leisure pass
  • Driving lessons
  • IT equipment, such as a laptop or iPad
  • Holiday/day trips  - This could be the carer going on holiday or having day trips alone or the carer and the cared for person taking a break together

A few examples of what the carer cannot spend the personal budget on:

  • Holidays or breaks that have already been taken
  • Debts and household bills
  • Gambling
  • Health services
  • The cost of a break for the cared for person

More information

  • A carers personal budget will be paid via Bankers' Automated Clearing Services (BACS) into your bank account and you must spend your personal budget within 12 months of receiving it.
  • After 12 months has passed you can request another carers assessment and, if you are still eligible, you may receive a further payment.
  • A carers personal budget may be subject to an audit, which may require the carer to send all receipts/proofs of purchases made with the money provided by the council.

Page last reviewed: 31/07/2023