When caring for someone, finding the most appropriate support for you and the person you care for will be key to ensuring their specific needs are met, and to maintaining your own wellbeing as a carer long term, and being aware of the support available can make things easier for you both.
Here we explore some of the support available and suggest some practical steps you can take to access that support as a carer.
If you are caring for someone with a learning disability who has difficulty moving, sitting or standing, certain aspects of your role like washing, dressing and transferring may be particularly challenging or even dangerous for you to do alone. Paid carers may be able to offer extra support with these physically demanding personal care tasks, making them more manageable and safe for everyone. Bringing in paid carers into your support network can also be helpful if the person you care for has complex needs requiring specialist support or 24-hour care. It would allow you to take regular, small breaks in the day which is crucial for your overall health and wellbeing.
Sometimes you might be advocating for the person you care for and feel you need extra advice in a particular area. In this instance you might feel more confident by accessing specialist advocacy services and working with an expert. If this is something you can relate to, our article on understanding capacity may also be of interest to you.
Being the main carer for someone who relies on consistency and routine, this can mean the person you care for finds it more difficult to adjust to being around other people. Inviting in other carers not only supports you to meet your own needs and do other tasks but can also promote the independence of the person you care for by helping them get used to spending time with others.
Some carers say that caring for someone can be lonely at times. Having a wider circle of support can mean you feel less isolated and more connected to the world around you, with someone else popping in to help or offer important respite. All this supports the person you care for to develop their social skills, and is great for your overall wellbeing as a carer too. You might also like to read our article on caring for someone with profound multiple learning disability (PMLD).
Support with daily tasks
As a carer for someone with a learning disability, trying to balance your caring role with other commitments in your life can sometimes feel like a challenge. Some carers find it beneficial to hand over some of those everyday practical jobs around the home to professional services, friends or family. Having someone to come and do the cleaning and washing, mow the lawn or deliver freshly-cooked meals can take certain responsibilities from you and free up your energy and focus for other things.
Support with social interactions
As a carer, you are helping to increase and improve the social interactions of the person you care for by accessing extra support and involving more people in their care. Inviting family and friends to help, even in small ways, can have the added benefit of strengthening the bond between them and the person you care for, which is enriching and positive for everyone.
Paying for professional services like a Personal Assistant can boost the independence of the person you care for, and again, widen their community network and give them opportunities to enhance their social skills This can potentially be supported through a Needs Assessment for the person you are supporting, or through a Statutory Carers Assessment.
This type of social enrichment is also available outside the home, with day centres and activity hubs offering adults with a learning disability the chance to take part in all sorts of different activities whilst socialising with their peers and support staff.
Respite and taking a break
As a carer it is vital you recognise the impact this role has on you. Being able to take regular breaks and access respite is an important form of support for all carers, allowing you to rest and recharge, and feel more able to fulfil your caring responsibilities in the long term. Our article on accessing respite as a carer for someone with a learning disability goes into more detail.
Support for when you are not able to care
As a carer, planning for emergencies should be a priority, ensuring that someone else would be able to step in quickly to provide support if you were not able to care due to illness, an accident or after your death.
For carers, thinking about plans for their care after your death can be hugely difficult, but it can bring real relief and reassurance to know you have the right plans in place, and that the person you care for will continue to access the support they need.
Deciding on a particular person in advance, someone who knows you and the person you care for well and who knows where to access any care plans and communication passports you have created, can bring peace of mind too. This might be a close friend, family member, or a medical or health professional who is part of your support network. You might find our articles on planning for emergencies, and future care planning useful to read.
First steps to accessing support
The first step to accessing extra support is to ensure the person you care for has requested a Care Needs Assessment from their local authority; you or their GP can also do this on their behalf. If they are eligible for support, a care plan will then be drawn up to address their particular needs. This could include connecting them with specific care teams, professional services and activity providers, and the person you care for will also be given information about any benefits or grants they are entitled to. They may be eligible for a Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or a Personal Health Budget (PHB) to pay for certain aspects of their care, like practical support from a personal assistant or special equipment to meet their wellbeing needs.
As their carer, you too are eligible to request a Carer's Assessment to ensure you are getting the practical, physical and emotional support you need. Our articles on carer’s assessments, and getting financial support for carers give you all the details here.
There may be times in your caring journey when you require specialist support for specific situations. Advocacy services, behaviour and communication specialists, counsellors, and professionals trained in the techniques you may need to learn can all provide useful support. Speaking to your GP, Occupational Therapy (OT) team or social worker will help you identify which service is most suitable for your particular needs.
Accessing support for you as a carer
As well as the support offered to you following your carer’s assessment, there are other ways to access support for yourself. Reaching out to condition-specific organisations for their insight and support, and to ask any questions you might have can be very helpful. Through Carers First of your own local carer support organisation, you will be able to access local support groups created especially for people who are caring for someone with a learning disability. These peer support groups are an opportunity for you to meet other carers who will understand your situation, and share your experiences in a welcoming, supportive space.
Making time to connect socially with others, and doing activities you enjoy is important, and will contribute to your overall sense of wellbeing. Our articles on looking after yourself as a carer, and our monthly Self Care for Carers online programme, can also be wonderfully supportive resources to draw on.