What to do to prepare for the assessment

It is a good idea to keep a diary of all the caring you do for a week or a month before the assessment. This may seem like a hassle at the time on top of everything else you do, but it is worth it

– it may also help you with a claim for carers allowance (see Benefits you may be entitiled to).

Also, think about the following questions and record your answers so that you don’t forget to tell the assessor anything:

• What activites do you help your loved one with? For example:

– Shopping
– Cooking
– Housework
– Laundry
– Personal care – eg bathing, dressing
– Keeping an eye on them so they do not come to any harm
– Dealing with money
– Helping with paperwork – eg filling in claim forms
– Keeping them company
– Accompanying them to hospital appointments
– Helping them take their medicines
– Spending time with them to reduce their anxiety
– How many hours a week do you care for your loved one?
– Make sure you include ALL the time you spend with them

• Do you and your loved one live together or apart? Is this satisfactory? 
  
•  Do you help your loved one during the day or night or both? 
  
•  Does anyone else help you? If so, who and for how long?
  
• Would you like extra help with the jobs you do? Which ones would you most like help with?
  
• Are you having any health problems, whether as a result of caring or otherwise?
  
• Are you getting enough sleep?
  
• Are you stressed, anxious or depressed?
  
• Do you find it difficult to deal with any of the mental health problems of your loved one?
  
• Are you struggling to combine work and caring?
• Have you reduced your working hours as a result of caring?
  
• Has caring reduced your income?
  
• Have you stopped working as a result of caring? Would you like to return to work?
  
• Do you want to do any training or adult education courses?
  
• Does caring stop you pursuing leisure interests?
  
• What hobbies have you been unable to do because of your caring role? What activities have you missed most?
  
• When was the last time you had a day to yourself to do as you pleased?
  
• Do you feel that you have a choice about providing care?
  
• What parts of caring do you find rewarding or positive?
  
• What parts of caring do you find a burden or hassle?
  
• Do you feel unable to continue providing care? This is not unusual. Tell the
  assessor this.
• Do you feel you need to reduce the hours you spend caring for your loved one? Make sure you tell the assessor this.
  
• Has caring had an impact on your relationship with the person you care with
  or with others (eg other children, other members of your family, friends etc)?
  

REMEMBER: Social services are only required to provide services that no-one else is willing to, so it is very important that you explain exactly what you are happy to do and what you are not prepared to do.

• Do you know who to contact in an emergency or crisis? 
  
•  Do you need help planning what to do in an emergency or if you become ill and are unable to care?
  
• Are you worried about the future for yourself and your loved one? It is very important to tell the assessor about your worries.
  

REMEMBER that you can declare any information which you give as confidential.
However, the risk of self-harm or public safety could over-ride this in the future.