A carer spends a significant proportion of their life providing unpaid support to family or potentially friends. This could be caring for a relative, partner or friend who is ill, frail, disabled or has mental health or substance misuse problems. There are 6 Million Carers in the UK that equates to 1 in 8 of the population and every day, another six thousand people take on a caring responsibility equating to 2 million every year.
Many carers do not consider themselves to be a carer; they are just looking after their partner, mother, son, or friend, just getting on with it and doing what anyone else would in the same situation. We are beginning to see greater recognition and value to carers. In June 2008 the New Deal for Carers the National Strategy for Carers "A Caring system on your side. A life of your own" was published.
Locally the 2007 Lincolnshire County Council Carers Strategy moved towards a joint strategy that was vital to be taken forward through a partnership approach with carers and organisations involved as equal partners. This co-ordinated approach has been led by the Lincolnshire Carers' Lead who came into post in January 2008.
H.O.P.E. is one of these partners in making the carers strategy a reality and shaping the carer's agenda. We hold Monthly Carers meetings,(on the first Thursday of the month alongside the weekly meeting) to give an opportunity to discuss any issues in a 'safe' environment, this groups development will be instrumental in helping others in their 'Caring' role. As a Trusted Assessor we will be able to assist with the completion of your Carers Assessment & Emergency Planning via the County Council Carers Team.
HOPE enhances the carers network by attending meetings & working groups not only to build awareness of Heart Failure but to take a collective view on what matters most to patients and carers on this very turbulent journey. Some of the current groups are either in the Health or Social sector as follows;-
'Our' Hearts Never Fail ...