Adult Mental Health Support from A Carer
Supporting someone with a mental health problem can be challenging, as not only do you need to support that person, you also need to be able to manage society’s perceptions of that person’s condition, which may think that person is less deserving of care, because they can’t see the ‘hidden disabilities’ they have.
Hidden disabilities are those conditions that can interfere with a person’s day-to-day life and often be debilitating, but because they’re not ‘visible’ the way some physical disabilities are, they’re not taken into consideration. According to the Hidden Disabilities website, 1 in 5 people in the UK have a disability, and of those, 80% have a hidden disability.
Carers for people with mental health problems may not consider themselves carers in the same way that others do, especially unpaid carers, just because the type of support they offer may be different to the practical, everyday tasks that people associate with caring. However, according to Mind, the mental health charity, it’s important to still see yourself as a carer, even if you aren’t undertaking physical care tasks, as you’ll undoubtedly:
- provide emotional support
- help them to manage day-to-day tasks
- support them in challenging times
- advocate for them
- encourage and support them to seek help
- make phone calls for them
- encourage them to feel confident in making decisions
- be there for them during treatment.
Receiving professional care for a mental health condition is extremely valuable, and all of our Helping Hands private carers are well trained to ensure they can support their customer with whatever condition they’re living with. Providing support on both a visiting and live-in care basis, our carers can be the difference in helping you to manage everyday life.
Continued Support from A Friendly Face
Continuation of care is very important, and whether you have support from an unpaid caregiver, a family member or professional carer, you want to be sure that you have the necessary support to live your life to its fullest. Loved ones are often the principle caregivers for people living with mental health problems and that can put a strain on relationships that already exist, however by also seeking help from a professional care company such as Helping Hands, support can be given to both the person affected and their loved ones.
Relationship Building
Seeing the same carer, or small group of carers every day is a great way to build trust and relationships with the people who care for you, which can only be beneficial for both parties. If you are cared for by a loved one then the relationships will already exist, however these can become strained as a person’s condition changes. This means the relationships inevitably alter, albeit temporarily, until the person’s treatment or medication is successfully adjusted. It’s important that the caregiver is also supported in such circumstances, as otherwise all of their energy goes into supporting their loved one and their wellbeing is neglected as a result.
This is where Helping Hands can also help – offering respite care for temporary support at home so that loved ones can take a break, or sending our visiting carers at certain times of the day or week so that the person caring for their loved one also gets a chance for some time to themselves.
Care Specific to Your Needs
Being diagnosed with a mental illness can be life-changing but doesn’t necessarily mean loss of independence. We at Helping Hands understand mental illness and that it affects people in different ways, but with a fully trained and dedicated carer, Helping Hands make it possible for you or your loved one to live as independently as possible, while supporting everyone in the home emotionally. We see everyone as an individual; every condition that our customers are living with creates a new challenge but it’s one we’re more than equal to.
Thanks to your personalised support plan and bespoke package of care, our carers will support you solely, or as part of your wider multi-agency mental health team. If you’d like to talk to us further about mental health care in your own home, call us today on 0330 037 0532, or contact us via our website.