Photo by Neil Meddemmen
If you spend time looking after a friend, relative, partner or neighbour who cannot manage on their own, you should think about how this may be affecting your health.
Every year:
- 51% of carers have a physical injury as a result of caring
- 52% of carers need treatment for stress-related problems
- Many carers have to give up work and caring because of the effect caring has had on their own health.
Many of the health problems affecting carers are preventable. Take advantage of talking to your healthcare team, i.e.
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A carer should be able to:
- Get enough sleep and rest
- Have regular nutritious meals
- Drink enough fluids
- Have time for themselves
- Have social contact with other people, separate from the caring situation
- Get enough information about services that could help
- Feel free from financial worry because they have access to information on benefits or debt.
It can be difficult to make time for yourself, but it is important to get help before you reach a crisis or become exhausted.
Photo by Neil Meddemmen
Give yourself a health check
- Do you have unexplained aches or pains, poor circulation or regular 'minor' illnesses such as flu or colds?
- Do you make sure that you eat and drink regularly?
- Do you have problems with breathing, moving around the house, or going up or down stairs?
- Do you have problems sleeping?
- Do you often feel worried or tired?
- Are you aware of mood swings and changes in the way you react to other people?
- Have you been to the dentist or had your hearing and sight tested recently?
What you should do
- Make an appointment to speak to
your doctor or practice nurse and
talk to them about how you feel. - Check with the practice nurse which preventative screenings you are entitled to, e.g. bowel, breast, cervical etc., and about managing your health care needs.
- Ask if your GP practice has Stop Smoking or Alcohol Concern programmes.
Photo by Neil Meddemmen
- Ask your pharmacist for a ‘medication review’ – a review of your own medicines and of the person you care for.
- Ask your doctor to put your details
as a carer onto your medical records.
(Ask CCC for a ‘Tell your doctor you are a carer’ campaign card.) - Contact Camden Social Services and ask for a community care assessment for the person you care for and a carer's assessment for yourself. Tel: 020 7974 4000.
- Contact Camden Carers Centre for independent advice and information. Tel: 020 7428 8950.
Remember to take care of your health.
See our Help section for a list of useful numbers