Valuing the role of Carers

The coronavirus pandemic has got the nation talking about the care sector like never before. Our caregivers have been a pillar of strength in both the Bordon and Alton communities over the past two years, keeping clients safe and well-cared for at home.

It has been very encouraging to see the nation’s response to our sector, particularly the greater appreciation for the outstanding work our carers do. At Right at Home Alton and Bordon we were especially pleased to see that endorsement from clients resulted in us being rated among the top 20 home care providers in the whole of the south east.

Delivering homecare is an incredibly rewarding job but it comes with its challenges and never more so than during the pandemic. At Right at Home Alton and Bordon, the wellbeing of our caregivers is enormously important. We care for them in the same way they care for our clients.

Individual support, continual training and professional development, and building a great team atmosphere are key to our approach. We celebrate achievements such as caregivers passing a qualification, we remember the little things such as staff birthdays, and we delight in highlighting a job well done through our staff recognition scheme.

We make sure all our caregivers receive support from supervisors, whether that is a listening ear at a debriefing session or finding a solution to a particular difficulty with a client.

Throughout the pandemic, we have provided thorough training and advice around hygiene to minimise the risk of transmitting the virus between clients and caregivers, and helped staff navigate the ever changing COVID rules and guidelines, not only to keep our clients safe but also so our staff could be confident they could keep themselves and their own families healthy too.

We hope all of this helps our caregivers’ resilience, adds to the enjoyment of the job and shows our staff how much we value them.

Unfortunately, many family carers do not have the same support system as paid carers and the demands of caring for a loved one full-time can be difficult to manage.

Perhaps you became a full time family carer gradually over a number years or you may be a young carer who has taken on this role suddenly. Data from national charity Carers UK, shows that each day another 6,000 people take on a caring responsibility. Without the right support in place, this role can have a big impact on a carer’s own mental health and wellbeing.

What is Right at Home doing to support family carers in Alton and Bordon?
For many family carers in Bordon, Alton and surrounding areas such as Hindhead, Churt and Bentley, our respite homecare services provide peace of mind that their loved one is in safe hands while they take a well-deserved break.

This could simply be an hour of home respite care each day to enable their full time carer to get some fresh air or run some errands. For other clients, we provide a full day of care once a week, to give family carers a complete day of rest or the chance to catch-up on their other responsibilities.

On the fourth Thursday of the month we hold our Sunflower Café in Bordon at Café 1759 and our nearby branch in Farnham runs several social and support sessions, such as the Singing for the Mind and Love to Move. These are open to anyone who needs them - not just Right at Home clients - and between them they provide support, information, social interaction and wellbeing activities, particularly to people living with dementia and their caregivers.

Financial support: Carer’s Allowance
If you care for someone for 35 hours a week or more, you may be entitled to Carer’s Allowance. Depending on the other benefits the person you care for receives, you could get as much as £67.60 per week. It is important to note that you do not have to be related to or live with the person you care for. Read more about Carer’s Allowance and how to claim this on the Government website.

Other carer discounts or benefits

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.

Local sources of help

You will find more information about planning help with care on our website.

Other local sources of support include the Forest Community Centre in Bordon which hosts Citizens Advice and a range of activities. Alton Community Centre provides services such as Shopmobility and the Memory Lane Cafe.

If you would like more information on how we can support family carers in Alton and Bordon with respite care services, please speak to a member of our office team on 01420 481716

Useful resources

Carers Trust - a registered charity in England, Wales and Scotland providing advice and guidance for Carers

Carers UK’s online forum for Carers