Family and friend carers

If you provide unpaid support to someone who couldn’t manage without your help because of old age, a disability, an illness, mental health problems or an addiction, then you are one of 89,000 family and friend carers living in West Sussex.

Carers provide an invaluable service to the people they care for and this section aims to provide you with useful information and resources to support you.

In this section you will find advice on maintaining your own physical and mental wellbeing, details of organisations that can provide practical help and support so you can have a well-earned break, and information about services and equipment that can help you and the person you care for.

Consider telecare

Telecare uses electronic gadgets such as necklace alarms, medicine reminders and fall sensors to keep people safe and well.

Some telecare equipment could help the person you care for to manage better without you and give you peace of mind when you are not with them.

To find out more, go to the Telecare page.

Carer Health and Wellbeing Fund

The Carer Health and Wellbeing Fund offers small grants for carers for help to pay for equipment, services or activities that will support your wellbeing as a carer. That could mean, for example, a computer to help you stay connected with friends and family or a gym membership to help you look after your health. The fund is managed by Carers Support West Sussex and you need to be registered with Carers Support to apply for a grant. For more information, contact Carers Support West Sussex.

Emergency back-up services

Emergency back-up services can make sure the person you care for is looked after if you are suddenly unable to care for them. There are two free services in West Sussex that you can register with.

• Chichester Careline’s Carer's Emergency Alert Card is a credit card-sized card that lets people know that someone depends on you. The card has a 24-hour emergency number. If anything happens to you, Careline will contact one of the other people you have told them could cover for you in emergency.

Contact Chichester Careline to register.

• • Online: online enrolment form
  • Email: chichestercareline@chichester.gov.uk

• Crossroads Care South Central’s Emergency Respite Service makes sure the person you look after is cared for at home by trained staff in an emergency. To be eligible you must be looking after adult who is is either frail, has an illness, a disability, sensory impairment or dementia and the person you care for must live at home in West Sussex.

Contact Crossroads Care South Central to register.

• • Phone: 01903 790270
  • Email: admin@crossroadscare-sc.org