Support for your caring role as a host

As a Host, am I a Carer?

You might be helping your guests with tasks such as organising, and transporting someone to job centre interviews, medical appointments or providing emotional support. You could be doing it once a day, a couple of times a week or all the time. It can seem that there are no time limits to being a caring host.

As a host you are a carer because a carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for someone who could not always manage without their support. Many people do not see themselves as carers and continue caring, often with no support, until an emergency arises. Caring can often have an adverse impact on carers own health and wellbeing. Despite this, carers might be put off asking for help because they do not think they are eligible.

Carer Support Dorset are there for carers whatever their circumstances and that includes hosts in the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

How might caring affect my wellbeing?

Hosting can be positive and rewarding, but it can also be challenging, tiring, and isolating.

You might be juggling hosting with looking after the rest of your family and holding down a job. This can leave you emotionally exhausted and lead to stress.

Hosting can affect your relationship with your partner or other family members.

Carer Support Dorset can help however being a caring host is affecting you.

If you feel you need a little help, what happens next?

The Carer Support Dorset have a free support line on 0800 368 8349

Email: admin@carersupportdorset.co.uk

Online at:  www.carersupportdorset.co.uk

They can offer workshops and training and have a ‘here to talk’ befriending service.

The Carer Support Dorset team can also help signpost you to the support you could be entitled to or that you may need.

Support from Dorset Council

A Carer Assessment under the Care Act will give you an opportunity to discuss with a Carer Case Worker your caring role and what support you may need. If you think you may be eligible for a Carers Assessment, please call the Carer Support Dorset team on 08003688349 or Dorset Council on 01305 221016.

Carer Support Dorset is a charity that supports carers in Dorset*. We recognise each person’s circumstances are unique to them and it is really important you receive the right support for your situation. Carer Support Dorset can help.

Sanctuary Foundation

This You Tube link with the title ‘It’s a Marathon not a Sprint’ is both supportive and informative. Definitely worth a watch as a host.