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CARER SUPPORT & ADVICE
Whilst you may not think of yourself as a 'carer', you are likely caring for a partner, parent, son, daughter or friend with an acquired brain injury.
Being a carer will likely describe one aspect of your relationship with the person you are supporting. You might also be a parent, partner, sister, brother, child, friend or other family member.
It can, understandably, be difficult coming to terms with the change in a loved one’s behaviour and ability to function.
You may also have other responsibilities alongside your role as a carer, including work or caring for children and may find yourself having to adjust to a new and completely unfamiliar set of circumstances.
You might need help in dealing with a range of emotions you find yourself experiencing, or just want to understand more about brain injury, its effects and the specialist support available both to your loved one and you as a carer.
How can Headway Coventry & Warwickshire help?
We are here to listen, help and support you, at any stage from the hospital bedside to many years down the line.
Through our enquiry line, our support team can provide you with direct, emotional and practical support.
There is no fee for using our help line, which is available for you to call between
9.30am – 3.30pm currently Monday only (except for public holidays).
Our staff can help by listening and offering tailored support to your circumstances. Please call us on 07752 167075 during our enquiry line times and we will do what we can to help you.
Through our Enquiry Line you can:-
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access information and advice
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speak to someone to find out how we may be able to help you
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get more information on all of our services
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be supported to access other services or organisations
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get advice and information on brain injury
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get support if you are upset or feeling emotional
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arrange visits or talks for your organisation
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get information on legal assistance
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find out about events that you can attend
We’re here to listen and provide much needed support and advice. To speak with the Headway Coventry & Warwickshire Support Team, please call 07752 167075 or email enquiries@headway-cw.org.uk
Coping as a Carer
Outlined below is some advice to help you cope with the transition into living with brain injury.
Before leaving hospital
GET INFORMATION
Find out as much as you can about the effects the brain injury will have on the person you are caring for and how you can deal with their new behaviours. Our Advice & Information page is a good place to start.
MAKE YOUR NEEDS KNOWN
Contact healthcare professionals, social services, benefits agencies and voluntary organisations to assert your needs and gain support. We can help you find the right contacts.
ARRANGE YOUR FINANCES
Sort out your benefits before your relative leaves the hospital and talk to your bank manager for advice on changes to your financial situation.
TALK TO SPECIALISTS
Contact organisations such as Headway Warwickshire who are experienced in dealing with brain injury and can help with any potential problems that may arise.
PREPARE TO FILL IN FOR YOUR RELATIVE
Ascertain what your relative will no longer be able to do and arrange for those responsibilities to be taken on by someone else. Allocate tasks to all family members so the load is lightened.
After leaving hospital
SEEK SUPPORT
Make sure there is someone, such as a friend or a carer support group, with whom you can talk about any problems you might have. Ask family and friends to help you find solutions to problems; they may find one you hadn’t thought of.
PLAN
Consider the change in your situation and reassess your ambitions. Set new goals and take positive steps to achieve them. Again, it might help to attend a carer support group to talk to others to hear how they have coped in similar situations.
KEEP UP THE THINGS YOU ENJOY
Do enjoyable things together when you can, but allow yourself a break too. Try not to feel daunted; we can help guide and support you through this.
"As a family, we all found it hard to cope with my wife's brain injury, as we had no idea where to start. Talking to someone at Headway and meeting with others in similar situations was a life saver for me."