Support for my Step-Mother who cares for my Dad with cancer.

Welcome to the online community, this really is a place that you never thought you'd arrive at but because of the illness your dad has we are pleased that you've reached out to us for support for your step mother,  being a carer is not easy juggling everything around, looking after a loved one, managing a house and in the end we put so much time into caring for others that we forget to look after ourselves and we get tired and exhausted.

In Bristol and South Gloucestershire they appear to acknowledge the role of the carer and their needs and offer a lot of help and advice.

If you would like to open up the following two links they will show the help and support there is for step mum and your dad.

Carers Support Centres

Carers Organisations

If your step mum and your dad have not received a needs assessment from Bristol Council I would suggest that they arrange for a free assessment to identify their needs

Needs Assessment 

Carers Assessment 

Social care and support guide

It maybe that Macmillans have support groups in the Bristol area and you can check this out below

Macmillans in your area

If your dad has not applied for an

Attendance Allowance

I would suggest that he applies as soon as possible

Macmillans, AgeUK and Citizens Advice can help to complete the paperwork

In some areas there could be an

AgeUK befriending service

The idea here is that a volunteer comes to the house and sits with dad whilst your step mum has some free time to recharge her batteries. Under the same scheme it might be possible for a volunteer to come and take dad to hospital and doctors appointments

Normally at this stage I would be suggesting contacting your nearest Maggies Centre but unfortunately the nearest one at this time is in Cardiff which would be too far to travel

This booklet might be of interest

Looking after someone with cancer 

We also have a Supporting someone with incurable cancer forum group that you might like to join.

It certainly looks as if in the Bristol help for carers is available and I hope by reading through the above your step mum will find somewhere where she can go and have a chat with others over a cup of coffee.

If I can be of anymore help please don't hesitate to contact me, it will be my pleasure to help you

Ian

By clicking on any of the green text above will open up new pages for you.