Caring for Someone with Disabilities
Caring for someone with disabilities, illness and difficulties
- Major illnesses - what they are and who can help?
- Mental illness
- Learning Disability
- Sensory Impairment
- Caring for an Older Person
- Links to Helpful Organisations
Major illnesses
Looking after someone with a major disease or illness can be a daunting prospect. Besides help from family and friends, you will need all the support, advice and information you can get. For instance, you might want to know more about the illness and how to it will affect the person you care for, as well as yourself.
For information on a specific illness or condition take a look at the following pages.
Other places for information include:
- MedicDirect
- NHS Direct - a 24-hour telephone line no. 0845 4647
Mental illness
A mental illness can be described as anxiety, depression or feelings of confusion are emotional responses to the stresses of everyday life. Most of us have experienced at least one of these feelings at some time in our lives. Mental illness can be described as a situation when these feelings intensify and begin to cause difficulty with:
- Personal and social relationships
- Self care
- Decision making
- Judgement
For help with mental illness the person can see their GP who may refer them on to a Psychiatric Nurse at the hospital or the local Community Mental Health Team (CMHT). Contact details are:
Community Mental Health Team, Haughton House, 167 Stamford Street East, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 6QQ
0161 339 2627
Community Health Team for Older People, Hyde Hospital, Grange Road South, Hyde, SK14 5NY
0161 368 4157
You could also get in touch with your local MIND organisation , whose services include:
- Supported housing, crisis helplines, drop-in centres, counselling, befriending, advocacy,
- A telephone information line that gives thousands of callers every year vital confidential help on a range of mental health problems and their consequences. You can ring 0845 7660 163 from anywhere in the UK for the price of a local call.
- A special project designed to make mental health services more responsive to the needs of black and minority ethnic communities
Mind also has booklets you can read on line, for instance on 'How to Cope as a Carer' . These booklets are written in plain English and give straightforward practical information on a range of mental health issues such as mental health disorders and conditions. There's also a link to materials that have been translated into community languages.
216-218 Katherine Street, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lancashire, OL6 7AS
0161 330 9223
There is a directory for mental health published by the Department of Health in association with Focus on Mental Health. It contains over 160 organisations that can be contacted for help on a range of issues.
The directory also gives you general information about mental health problems such as anxiety, dementia, depression, eating disorders, manic-depression, psychosis and schizophrenia. It discusses how to get help and what treatments are used. There's an A-Z of organisations that offer help, such as 'Hearing Voices' and 'Rethink' .
Learning Disability
www.mencap.org.uk describes Learning Disability in the following way:
A learning disability is a lifelong condition - acquired before, during or soon after birth - that affects an individual's ability to learn. The causes of many learning disabilities are not known, but the most common example is Down's Syndrome.
People with a learning disability find it harder to learn and understand than other people. As a result, some need support with everyday practical skills like getting dressed or cooking, or social skills like holding a conversation. Others with more severe learning disabilities - often coupled with physical disabilities - require 24-hour care. Many, however, are able to live fairly independent lives.
It's important to understand that people with a learning disability are individuals with unique personalities, likes and dislikes, goals and aspirations.
A learning disability does not prevent someone from learning and achieving a lot in life, if given the right support.
Tameside Learning Disability Services is made up of Social Care and Health workers. It provides a variety of support to help those people with a learning disability and their Carers.
Useful Websites
Mencap has information, advice and support on a range of issues to do with learning disability. They also have a comprehensive list of relative websites where you can search for information by category, such as such as children, education, jobs, housing and leisure.
Valuing People - This website is for people with a learning disability. It's about education, family, support, work, money, your life, enjoyment and health
Sensory Impairment
Visual Impairment
If you are caring for someone who is having difficulty in their daily life because of visual loss, you can get help from your local Visual Impairment Service.
Useful Contacts
Action for the Blind
A national charity working with blind and partially sighted people to enable them to have equal voice and equal choice.
British Wireless Fund for the Blind
Shop for specially adapted radios and cassettes for the blind.
Henshaws Society for Blind People
A major charity providing a wide range of services for visually impaired adults and children.
Hugh Sasse's Blindness Resource Pages
Here you can find a list of organisations for the blind. Locate guide dog, horse guide associations. Blindness related information sources, technology and research.
Listening Books
A charity that provides audio books in cassette form through the post to people who have difficulty reading.
Royal National Institution for the Blind
RNIB offers practical support and advice to anyone with a sight problem.
Talking News Association
A registered charity that provides national and local newspapers and magazines on audio tape, computer disk, e-mail and CD-ROM for visually impaired and disabled people.
Deaf People
If you have a hearing loss that causes you difficulties in your everyday life, then you can get help from Tameside's Services for Deaf People Team. Click here for information on Interpreting Services including Sign Language interpreting.
Useful contacts
RNID North, Armstrong House, Manchester Technology Centre, Oxford Rd, Manchester, M1 7ED
0161 242 2316 Special phone: 0161 242 2272 (text) Help line: 08088080123 
jenny.harkison@rnid.org.uk
Tameside Centre for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, 225 Mossley Road, Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, OL6 6LX
0161 330 4019 
0161 330 4019
Delta
Deaf education through listening and talking
Physical Disabilities
There may be plenty of areas where support is needed for both the Carer and the person being cared for, dependent on the condition of the disability. For instance, help may be needed with:
- A Carer's Assessment
- Moving and Handling (link to Moving and Handling under Looking after the Carer)
- Getting extra money
- Getting about
- Housing for Carers
- Aids and adapting your home
- Home help
- Emotional support (link to Looking after the Carer)
- Having a break
To enquire about getting help, you could contact:
- Adults Services
- Your local Carers Centre
- Follow the link for further information about other helpful organisations such as charities that can give support to local Organisations or visit Local Life Tameside
Caring for an Older Person
If you are caring for an older person then you might want to know how you can help them with everyday needs and about the services available to make life more comfortable for you and the person being cared for.
Age Concern has some useful factsheets on issues concerning elderly people such as:
- Community Care
NHS care; disability and ageing; paying for care in a care home; disability equipment; home help and Local Authority charges; hospital discharge arrangements. - Consumer issues
Help with heating; television licence concessions; making a will; legal matters; arranging a funeral; crime prevention. - Health
Dental care; community health services; help with continence. - Housing
Financial help with repairs and adaptations; raising income or capital from your home. - Income and Benefits
A guide to money benefits; Attendance Allowance; Disability Living Allowance; Council tax; Income Support; Pension credit; Income Tax; Housing benefit. - Leisure, learning and work
Travel for older people; leisure and learning; holidays for older people.
Click here to view the Age Concern Factsheets
The local office of Age Concern can be found at:
Age Concern Tameside, 131 Katherine St, Ashton-under-Lyne, OL6 7AW
0161 308 5000
Your Local Authority provides a range of services for older people:
- Adult Services
Adult Assessment and Customer Care Team (AACCT). Provides a range of Services. - Anchor Staying Put
Helping you stay in your own home in Tameside. - Community Alarms
Are you Disabled? Elderly? Frail? Alone? Would you or someone you know benefit from using our Emergency Alarm Service? - Day Centres
For adults with disabilities and elderly people. - Disabled Index
A list of Services for the Disabled. - First Call
Making your home more safe and secure. - Home Care Service
Helping Carers to Take a Break. - Motability
Making access to Motability Scheme information an easy process. - Residential Care Homes
A list of residential care homes for the elderly
Sometimes administering pills or allowing the person being cared for to self-administer can be uncertain. For example, did you remember to give the medication? Did you give the correct dosage? It's important you remember as the person you care for may be at risk. Pivotell has the solution to this problem. See how using an automated pill-dispenser might work for you and the person you care for .
There are some useful books about caring for the elderly that you can get on loan from your local library. Have a look at the details of books available from the Tameside Library catalogue and check the Library opening times.
Links to Helpful Organisations
Alzheimer's Disease and Dementia
The Alzheimer's Society is the UK's leading care and research charity for people with any form of dementia and their Carers.
Local contact: Alzheimer's Society-Manchester Branch 0161 274 4918
Arthritis Care
Arthritis Care is the UK's largest voluntary organisation working with and for people with arthritis. Its aim is to empower people to take control of their arthritis and their lives.
Back Pain
BackCare is a charity for healthier backs and is dedicated to educating people on how to avoid preventable back pain and supporting those living with back pain.
Brain & Spine Injury
BASIC is based at the regional Neurosciences Centre in Greater Manchester, specialising in trauma and dealing with life or death cases. The centre treats conditions such as brain haemorrhage, brain tumor, severe head and spinal injuries and other conditions affecting the brain and spine, including support and information for those recovering from these life threatening conditions.
Cancerbackup provides high quality and up to date information, practical advice and support for cancer patients and their families.
Carers Information
Click on Carers Profiles to find a list of links that may be of use to you.
Offers information, support and advice for people living with cancer.
Scope - Cerebral Palsy
Scope is a disability organisation for people with cerebral palsy. Its aim is for disabled people to achieve equality, a society in which they are as valued and have the same human and civil rights, as everyone else.
You can also browse or download factsheets covering therapies and aspects of living with a disability from www.scope.org.uk/information/factsheets/
Children with Disabilities
Contact a Family is a national registered charity, founded in 1979, dedicated to helping families who care for children with any disability or special need.
Counselling
Mind is a leading mental health charity and works for a better life for everyone who experiences mental distress.
Council for Disabled Children
Provides service and support for children and young people with disabilities and special educational needs.
Cystic Fibrosis
The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation aims to assure the development of the means to cure and control cystic fibrosis and to improve the quality of life for those with the disease.
Depression
Depression Alliance is a leading UK charity for people affected by depression. It provides information about the symptoms of depression, treatments, campaigns and local groups.
Diabetes UK
Diabetes UK is a UK charity whose aim is to improve the lives of people with diabetes and to work towards a future without diabetes.
Epilepsy Action
Epilepsy Action's website contains everything you need to know about epilepsy.
Guilliain-Barre Syndrome
The Guillian-Barre Syndrome Support Group has a website about information and support for people who suffer from a disease of the nervous system which leads to paralysis.
Heart disease - Websites all about your heart
www.bhf.org.uk
www.stroke.org.uk
www.differentstrokes.co.uk
Limbless
The Limbless Association is for all those seeking advice or support relating to the loss of a limb; whether you are an amputee, relative, Carer or healthcare professional
www.mndassociation.org
The MND Association supports people with MND and those who care for them.
www.mssociety.org.uk
The Multiple Sclerosis Society offers information and support for those who suffer from MS.
Osteoporosis
The National Osteoporosis Society is the only national charity dedicated to improving the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of this fragile bone disease.
Panic Attacks
No Panic is a charity that helps those who suffer from Panic Attacks, Phobias, Obsessive Compulsive Disorders and other Anxiety Disorders, including tranquilliser Withdrawal.
Parkinson's Disease Society
The Parkinson's Disease Society is a registered charity that provides support, advice and information to people with Parkinson's, their Carers, families and friends, and to health and social care professionals involved in management and care.
RADAR
Radar is an organisation of disabled people that works for disabled people and disability organisations to initiate, develop and encourage change and campaign for a fully inclusive society.
Spinal Injuries
The Spinal Injuries Association supports all those who are affected by spinal cord injury, including their family and friends. The aim of the Association is to promote the integration and full participation in society of our members, by encouraging and enabling them to become fulfilled and in control of their lives.
Spondylitis
The National Ankylosing Spondylitis Society provides education for patients on disease management. The website also contains practical advice on things you can do to make the condition more bearable.
Stress
A selection of pages on stress can be found here. Read about relaxation, medicines and talking to your doctor.
Click here for more information about Local Community Organisations, Or visit www.locallife.co.uk/tameside/community.asp