Overview Do you help to look after an adult family member, partner or friend? If you are an adult living or caring for someone in Merton you may benefit from our wide range of services. Expand Do you help to look after an adult family member, partner or friend? If you are an adult living or caring for someone in Merton you may benefit from our wide range of services. Carers Support Merton offers a friendly and accessible one-stop-shop for unpaid carers in Merton. We provide specialist information, advice and guidance on a wide range of issues related to caring, including carers rights, financial, housing, employment, future planning and risk/crisis management. As a carer you can participate in our many activities and peer support networks, our specialist groups and events, or use our telephone support services to stay connected. If you register with us we will keep in touch with you regularly to let you know what’s on. We can give telephone advice and information on any issue related to caring between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday. If we are unable to put you through to an advisor straightaway, someone will call you back. Carers Hub carries out formal Carers Assessments on behalf of London Borough of Merton to identify Support Plans for carers, which may include Carers Discretionary Grant or access to a Personal Budget. We provide a Mental Health Carers’ Advisory Service to provide specialist support carers of someone experiencing mental health issues.
Life after Caring It can be hard to adjust to changes in your life when your caring role ends. We offer a range of services to help you to cope with your feelings and plan for your future. Expand It can be hard to adjust to changes in your life when your caring role ends. It may be that the person you care for has moved on to a residential or nursing home, is terminally ill, receiving palliative care or has died. Taking care of your relative or friend may have been your main focus for some time and there may be many activities that have been a part of your daily routine that you don’t need to do anymore. Feelings you may have People usually experience a wide range of (sometimes conflicting) emotions. You may suddenly feel a lack of purpose, now that you don’t have someone to look after any more. There may be some aspects of caring that you’ll miss. Or you may feel relieved at the pressure being taken away.You might find that people who had always asked you about the person no longer know what to say. They may talk about everything except your relative or friend who’s died. This could be upsetting, or you may be grateful. It’s likely you’ll have shared experiences with the person that no one else knows about. If they’ve moved to care /nursing home or died it can seem as if part of your own life has disappeared too. You may feel lonely and you may need support to deal with feelings of bereavement. Living your own life again This is likely to be a painful time for you and you may not feel like taking up activities that you used to enjoy, just yet. But it’s good to rediscover your own needs and interests after putting yourself second for such a long time. When you feel ready, you may begin to think about going back to work, taking a course, volunteering or rebuilding your life in the community. You might like to discover activities and social events you could get involved in. Carers support Merton is able to offer a range of Life After Caring services, tailored to your needs at this time in your caring journey. Group Coaching sessions Support to rebuild a life of your own We work in partnership with Merton Uplift to provide a range of services to promote the positive well-being of Carers including access to psychological services.
Information, Advice & Guidance We offer information, advice and guidance on a range of issues including Carer's rights, benefits, financial & legal entitlements, housing & employment. Expand Carers often have to learn new skills, cope with new challenges in their lives and gain access to services they have never used before. We are here to help with information, advice and guidance on all aspects of caring. This includes Carers’ rights, benefits, financial & legal entitlements, housing & employment. “The regular emails and information have helped to know that there is so much on offer and gives you a feeling that help is out there and someone cares.” “If I have any question about any aspect of care, I can ask Daniela or Debbie. They can then guide me.” “l now realise that, l as a carer have needs, and its alright to get help.” We specialise in offering responsive, confidential and flexible support for carers to enable them to negotiate the complex and changing world of public and health services. We can help claim benefits, or to get help with Carers Assessments or Power of Attorney. We help carers learn skills, maintain their own health, plan for the future, or deal with emotional issues, amongst many other things. When you need additional help we can represent your concerns to external agencies or refer you to specialist advice services. Our quarterly Information Days are proving a great success, with interesting and informative displays about all our services as well as local health, social care and community partners who come along to advise you. You can visit as many or as few of the stands as you like, pick up leaflets to take home or talk to helpful staff and advisors. When you want a break or to chat, sit down in our Time For You Cafe area and enjoy a cake and a cuppa! You can telephone the office between 10am and 4pm Monday to Friday on 0208 646 7515 to ask for information or advice.
Employment, Education and Training If you are still working or in education/training alongside caring, or you would like to be, we can offer information, advice and support to help you to achieve your personal goals. Expand Many carers combine their caring responsibilities with paid employment (or would like to) and our advisors can offer specific advice and support to enable you to meet your personal goals towards education, training and employment. If your caring role makes it difficult to do the work, study, training or activities (such as adult classes) you want to do, then our advisors could help you explore possible changes in your working conditions (such as flexible working), learning aids or different ways of spending free time if you can no longer do the things you used to do. We can put you in touch with agencies who can help with job search and finding training or volunteering opportunities. Our experienced team can also help you negotiate with your current employer to explore possible changes to your working patterns or conditions which may support you better in balancing employment with your caring role. In addition, we work in partnership with Carers Trust to facilitate opportunities for carers to take part in their Working For Carers programme: Employment and Training Advice for unpaid carers aged 25 and over One-to-one advice and support Workshops and group sessions Employment, volunteering and training opportunities
Support Groups & Social Activities Carers tell us that they really value the opportunity to meet others in a similar situation & and to have time away from their caring role. Expand Carers tell us how much they value the opportunity to meet other people in similar circumstances, coming together to learn, to relax, to get out and about or just to socialise. We run a range of support groups and activities throughout the year. “I’ve realised that you have to take time out and recharge your battery, l do matter. It is nice to have somewhere to go and interact with other carers.” “It is meeting, talking & listening to others in a similar situation that gives ideas that can be used at home. Plus just to get out to talk about your problems and fears really helps.” “Knowing that you are not alone and there are people who can help if you need it. Just getting out of the house is good. Having an excuse to do so is essential.” “These activities have given me a taster of the type of hobbies that I would like to peruse. This then would give me a more fulfilling life rather than just feel that my role in life is just a carer.” “The opportunity to have some ‘me time’, has given me the chance to recharge my batteries and come back home more refreshed and focussed to deal with any ongoing issues.” “The mental health Cafe has been a real help, giving me the opportunity to talk to like minded people who are going through similar situations.” Click Here to find out more about our current social activities and support groups.