A NEW support service has launched in Thurrock to help carers who are struggling to look after themselves and their loved ones.

The Thurrock Ageing Well Carers Intensive Support team is run by Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust (EPUT), which provides a similar service in the Southend area.

It helps people who are:

• looking after someone who has dementia, or
• aged over 65 and looking after someone also aged over 65 who has frailty, a mental health condition, or is receiving palliative care.

The team helps carers access support with their health and wellbeing, financial concerns, respite care, and any other services that will ease worry and pressure on how they will continue caring for their loved one as well as themselves.

Carers also receive a comprehensive health and wellbeing check, which looks at their physical, mental, emotional and social health and wellbeing.

Nancy Smith, Carers Intensive Support Lead, said: "Carers do an amazing job looking after their loved ones, often in challenging circumstances.

"We know it can feel overwhelming and sometimes isolating, so we are there to make sure they don't feel alone and they are getting the support they need too.

"We work closely with other health, social care and community teams who specialise in dementia, older people's mental health and frailty, and charity and community organisations.

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"This enables us to make sure carers get the right support, as quickly as possible."

EPUT first offered the service in the Southend area in April 2022 after staff noticed a large rise in family carers who were struggling to cope during the Covid pandemic.

It's part of the Trust's commitment to providing personalised, inclusive care that improves mental health for everyone.

The service in Thurrock has been commissioned by Thurrock Council and is only available to carers who live in the district.

Carers who think the service could benefit them should speak to any professional involved with their own care or that of their loved one.

This week (18 - 24 May) is Dementia Action Week, an awareness campaign led by Alzheimer's Society that brings people and organisations together to act on dementia. Thurrock Nub News reported on an event held at the Town Hall to highlight dementia – read our news and video report here.

You can read more about where to get support at https://www.alzheimers.org.uk/get-support or https://www.dementiauk.org/

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