The Ultimate Guide to Caring for a Family Member

At MoliCare, we understand the vital role family carers play in our communities. With advances in medicine allowing people to live longer, caring for a family member has become more common. Currently, there are approximately 6.5 million people providing care across the UK.

While caring for loved ones can be deeply fulfilling, it can also present challenges. Being well-prepared for the various responsibilities that come with this role is essential for managing these challenges effectively. Whether you're new to caring or have been doing it for some time, we have compiled a range of information and resources to support you every step of the way.

Explore our comprehensive guides and tools to help you in your caregiving journey.

Caring for a family member can be challenging, especially when dealing with conditions such as incontinence, which is common in older adults. While there is no single guide to caregiving, there are several strategies that can help make the role easier. MoliCare offers a range of products designed to assist you in this important task. From bathing and cleansing solutions to bladder leakage products, MoliCare supports you in providing the best care for your loved ones.

Research Your Loved One’s Condition – Understanding as much as you can about the illness or disability of the person you are caring for will help you look after them more effectively.

Register As a Carer with Your GP – You may be entitled to additional health services as a carer. This includes support with physical health issues caused by caring, reminders to book in for a flu jab every year, flexible appointments that work around your care schedule and mental health support.

Talk To Other Caregivers – Being able to talk to others who understand your situation can help you to look after your own wellbeing.

Encourage Independence – Being a carer for a family member doesn’t mean you have to do everything for them. Encourage strategies and technologies that let your family member to remain as independent as possible.

Connect With The Person You Care For – taking the time each day to talk and connect with the person you are caring for can help both parties

Inform Your Employer of Your Caring Responsibilities – Caregiving may affect your work life, so letting your employer know the responsibilities you’ve taken on can enable them to help you deal with any increased stress.

Take Care of Your Own Needs – Exhaustion, burn out, and distraction can make it difficult to connect with the person you are caring for and negatively affect your mental health. Attending to your own needs outside of caregiving will help you balance your life and de-stress.

Know Your Limits – Knowing your limitations will give you a healthy balance between caregiving and relaxing. Communicate your limits to all involved in caring, including doctors and family members, to set clear boundaries.

Many individuals may not realise they have become carers. On average, it takes around two years for them to acknowledge their responsibilities. This delay often occurs because the boundaries between assuming a caring role and the natural progression of a relationship can be unclear.

What is a Carer?
According to the NHS, a carer is someone who looks after a family member, partner, or friend who cannot manage without help due to an illness, disability, infirmity, mental health issue, or addiction. These individuals rely on their carers to perform everyday tasks they are unable to do themselves.

Who Can Be a Carer?
Anyone can be a carer, regardless of age. Both children and adults can take on these important responsibilities. However, it's important to note that if the care provided is part of voluntary work or a paid employment contract, the individual isn't considered a carer in this context.

Understanding your role as a carer is crucial for accessing the right support and resources to manage the responsibilities effectively.

There are many different responsibilities that unpaid carers take on when caring for someone else. Depending on the nature of the situation, these could take up some or all of your time. For example, it’s necessary for some carers to move in with their loved one to provide constant support, whereas other carers may only visit once a day. The amount of care provided depends upon the condition of your loved one, but being a carer for a family member may entail assisting with:

·         Maintaining hygiene

·         Mobility support

·         Physical support

·         Ordering medical supplies

·         Arranging hospital appointments

·         Household chores

·         Shopping

·         Meal preparation

·         Managing the household budget

·         Social interaction

·         Emotional support

·         Ensuring the rights of the person you care for are being met

You may also be caring for someone who has challenges taking care of their own personal cleansing and hygiene or have bladder weakness or incontinence as a result of mental or physical impairment. We recommend Disposable Pants for people who can get to the toilet themselves usually, but might need some protection in case of an accident. While MoliCare adult nappies provides a solution for someone who can't self toilet during the day and night time with a range of sizes and absorbencies that can also help with maintaining their dignity should a bladder leakage occur.

While your primary concern is naturally the well-being of your loved one, it's equally important to look after your own health. Being a carer for a family member can be challenging, but seeking additional support can benefit both you and your loved one in the long run. There are various aids and benefits available to carers that can make a significant difference.

A carer's assessment is an evaluation conducted by your local social services department to determine the support you may need in your role as a carer. This assessment aims to identify ways to make your life easier while you provide care.

To request and arrange a carer's assessment, you can contact the adult social services at your local council. During this process, a representative from the council will discuss how you are managing your caregiving responsibilities, including the impact on your health and free time. Typically, this meeting occurs face-to-face, but some councils may offer the option to conduct it over the phone. If you prefer, you can bring someone with you to the assessment for additional support.

In addition to carer's assessments, social services also provide needs assessments. This separate evaluation focuses on the needs of the person you are caring for, identifying the services and further assistance they may require. It is possible to have a needs assessment conducted simultaneously with a carer's assessment, although it is not mandatory.

By undergoing these assessments, both carers and those they care for can gain access to valuable resources and recommendations to improve their quality of life.

Being a carer can be incredibly taxing in many ways, but a factor you may not have foreseen is the costs. Luckily, you may be entitled to financial support benefits to help with the costs of being a carer. These are the carer’s benefits that you may be entitled to, and how you can get them.

Carer’s Allowance – Carer’s allowance is the main state benefit for carers and pays £69.70 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits. You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for. You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.

Carer’s Credit – Carer’s credit is a National Insurance credit that contributes to your National Insurance record to ensure you don’t lose out on certain social security benefits. For example, your state pension is based on your National Insurance record, and carer’s credit can ensure that you get it. You are eligible for carer’s credit if you look after someone for more than 20 hours a week and do not receive a carer’s allowance.

Carer Premium – A carer premium is an extra allowance you can receive on top of other state benefits. You may be eligible for a carer premium if you already receive another benefit, such as Income Support, Universal Credit, or Housing Benefit.

As a carer, you may be able to claim other allowances besides specifically carers benefits. Check what benefits you are entitled to by using the government benefits calculators.

Maintaining your health and wellbeing is essential for fulfilling your role as a carer effectively. It prevents you from becoming rundown and exhausted. Taking breaks from your caregiving duties helps you to recharge, ensuring you can provide the best care possible.

Respite care offers an opportunity to take a break from your responsibilities. During this time, someone else will take over your caregiving duties. There are numerous respite care options available, including:

Volunteers: You can request a volunteer to stay with your loved one for a few hours, giving you some time to yourself.
Temporary Care Home Stays: Your loved one can stay in a care home temporarily while you rest and rejuvenate.
Exploring these respite care options can ensure that both you and the person you care for receive the attention and rest needed for a healthier, more balanced life.

The main types of respite care are:

●      Homecare from a paid carer

●      Day care centres

●      Sitting services

●      Getting help from friends and family

●      Respite holidays

●      A short stay in a care home

The average cost of respite care is £700-800 a week. However, it can become as much as £1,500 a week should emergency care or a temporary care home stay be required. If you are able, you can pay for respite care yourself. However, you may be eligible for financial assistance from a charity or the council.

To find out more about your respite care options, consult your local social services team. 

Caring for loved ones isn’t an easy job, and although many people don’t like to ask for help, doing so can greatly relieve stress for you and your loved one. There are plenty of organisations that are there to aid you in your role as a carer while helping to maintain your own health.

Some useful contacts to help support you as a carer include:

●      Carers UK – 0808 808 7777 (England), 029 2081 1370 (Wales)

●      NHS – Social Care and Support Guide – 0300 123 1053

●      The Mix – 0808 808 4994

●      Citizens Advice – 0800 144 8848 (England), 0800 702 2020 (Wales)

●      Money Helper – 0800 138 7777 (England), 0800 138 0555 (Wales)

●      Samaritans – 116 123

●      Rethink Mental Illness – 0808 801 0525

Incontinence pads and other products can make life a little easier. With the right products, a good fit and right absorbency level, managing incontinence is a little easier. MoliCare incontinence products and skin care help caregivers manage the everyday challenges of caring for their loved ones. To maintain dignity and independence, MoliCare Premium Mobile incontinence pants are ideal, or for more severe incontinence try MoliCare Premium Form & Fixpants, while Skin Care products help support with daily skin cleansing as well as minimising the risk of incontinence associated dermatitis.

Caring for a family member can be challenging, but it also provides unique opportunities for connection and understanding. The role of a caregiver facilitates direct and meaningful conversations, strengthening the bond between you and your loved one. This responsibility helps prioritize what truly matters in life. 

While it is important to cherish and appreciate this role, it is equally vital to seek assistance when needed to ensure the well-being of both you and your family member.