Carer Support

This page was last reviewed 15-12-20

Carer Support

The Edinburgh Community Health Partnership (CHP) supports carers in a variety of ways. One of the main ways the CHP offers support is through a carer support team which provides information and support to carers living in Edinburgh.

You can refer a carer to the support team if the carer would like support to:

Become more confident as a carer
Set goals and priorities for their own life
Talk about, and reflect on, their situation

Or if the carer would like information on:

Their entitlements and rights as a carer
How to access local services for carers
Looking after themselves whilst caring for someone else
Medical conditions and medications
How to work with professionals

We offer support in a way that most suits the needs of the carer. We can provide written or telephone advice or meet carers face to face. Most meetings will be held in local carer or health premises, but if necessary, we can visit carers at home.

Who to refer:

Unpaid carers who are aged twelve years of age and over and live in the City of Edinburgh. The carer will be just starting to or already undertaking, a regular caring role for another person. A carer is generally defined as a person of any age who provides unpaid help and support to a relative, friend or neighbour who cannot manage to live independently without the carers help, due to frailty, illness, disability or addiction.

Often people are unsure if they are a carer as they see themselves as a spouse, off-spring, sibling or friend. It can be helpful to consider these questions about the person they look after:

Could they manage day to day life on their own?
Could they cope without the help and support of the carer?
Does the carer have enough time to look after themselves properly?

If the carer answers no to any of these questions we can help by giving the support.

Who not to refer:

Young carers who are under twelve years of age. Any paid professional carers. If in any doubt call the Carer Co-ordinator on 536-3371 or 536-6215 for guidance.