Nottinghamshire carers looking after a friend or relative with a terminal illness are being made aware of a free support service which includes emotional support and respite breaks.

The County Council is funding the Pathways Carer Support Service and offers carers looking after someone who is in the last six months of their life a range of support, including:-

• providing a listening ear, allowing carers to talk to someone about any worries and help identify copying strategies
• offering practical help with issues such as housing, financial and legal matters
• up to four hours a week respite breaks using professionally trained care workers.

The Council and health partners will be spending around £6.3m in 2018/19 supporting carers in the county, which includes short breaks, crisis support, personal budgets, and information and advice.

There are around 91,000 unpaid carers in the county according to the 2011 census, including 21,000 carers providing over 50 hours of care per week.

The largest group of carers in contact with the Council in the last year were female aged between 57 and 63, many of whom may be managing their caring role with other family or work commitments.

Glyn Owen, 87 from Worksop, is the main carer for his wife Jean, 84, who has multiple sclerosis and vascular dementia.
He receives support from the Council funded Nottinghamshire Carer’s Hub which helped him to access a personal budget for home care support, a grant for a new cooker and a cleaner once a week.

Glyn said: “I’ve been caring for Jean for thirty years but things got on top of me and I didn’t know where to turn.
“The Carer’s Hub has been marvellous and I attend their support groups with other carers and the companionship I’ve gained from this has been the best thing.

“The hub helped me fill out forms for things I’m entitled to such as a grant for a new cooker as my old one was dangerous.”

Councillor Stuart Wallace, the Council’s Chairman of Adult Social Care and Public Health Committee, said: “Understandably, carers looking after loved ones reaching the end of their life are often under much strain and the Pathways carer support service can be a vital lifeline during this difficult period.

“We also offer a wide range of support to other carers who play a vital role in helping people with care needs to live at home, so we encourage all carers to find out about the help that is available to them.”

Local carers can find out about the help and support available at a series of Nottinghamshire Carer’s Hub roadshows taking place until September.

The list of dates and venues are available by visitingwww.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/care/adult-social-care/carers/support-for-carers/roadshows

Alternatively, contact the Nottinghamshire Carers Hub on 0115 824 8824 or emailhub@carerstrustem.org

Leymar Healthcare provide Homecare Services in Ashfield and 24 Hour Live in Care in the UK to vulnerable adults in their community. Please contact our office on 01623 360 193 or email us at info@leymarltd.co.uk