Caring and Coping

Whilst giving you time and space to look at the emotions involved in looking after someone, this session will look at what strategies you use and what you could do to cope with stress more effectively. What will I get from this session?

• You'll consider some of the difficult emotions that may be involved in caring for someone
• Understand the causes and effects of these difficult emotions in your own caring role
• Explore how stress affects our thoughts, feelings and behaviour
• Explore and practice coping skills that you may find helpful
• Plan things you can do in the future to help you cope with stress and other difficult emotions

Caring and Me

You need to look after your own health to be able to care for somebody else. This session looks at how to be fit for life and caring and essential planning for your own health and wellbeing. What will I get from this session?

• Discover how you can look after your own health by building on exisiting skills and learning new skills
• Identify small and simple changes in your diet and physical routine that can help you feel better
• Try out some simple relaxation techniques
• Explore ways of coping with feelings of low mood
• Know when to seek professional support for depression
• Find out how to get other support from different sources

Caring Day to Day

Exploring the essentials of looking after someone on a daily basis, this session covers fundamentals from medication to emergencies at home. What will I get from this session?

• Feel more confident to deal with the physical aspects of looking after the person you care for and their medication
• Understand the importance of protecting your own wellbeing in order to care for someone else
• Learn to recognise your own skills, knowledge and experience in dealing with physical needs and/or medication
• Being aware of the essentials facts on: emergency situations at home; dos and don'ts of moving and handling people; and managing medication
• Identify what step(s) to take towards more confidently dealing with physical care and/or medication - while encouraging the person you care for to take responsibility too, where they can

Caring and Resources

This section looks at ways you can maximise your income and access other resources to save yourself money as a carer. What will I get from this session?

• Feel more confident about dealing with money
• Have an overall picture of key money matters for carers
• Know the main benefits and allowances you are entitled to as a carer
• Helps you to consider other resources for you or the person you care for
• Explore ways to tackle your financial issues

Caring and Life

This session is about taking time out to think about how you juggle the competing demands of your caring role and other aspects of your life. What will I get from this session?

• Look at the balance in your life between caring commitments and your other needs (family, work, play)
• Recognise your own strengths and explore some of your personal ambitions
• Explore an approach to positive thinking to help you make changes in your life
• Planning for a more balanced and confident caring role
• Helps you to create 'me' time to think about yourself and your choices

Caring and Communicating

Using real-life caring situations, this session explores how you can get the best from communicating with other people. What will I get from this session?

• Understand how to communicate what you want clearly and effectively
• Explore how you ask for things and try out strategies for effective influencing so you can get more of what you want
• Know your rights and some hints and tips so you are confident in what you ask for
• Be able to confidently communicate with the professionals and service providers you come across in your caring role such as GPs, social services etc

Additional Sessions

There are a number of additional sessions targeted at particular groups of carers. For more information on these courses please contact Carers Together.

More Information

If you would like more information about the courses above, you would like to book a place on a scheduled course or you would like Carers Together to arrange a course specifically for your organisation or support group, please e-mail admin@carerstogether.org.uk or telephone 01794 519495. We are waiting to hear from you.