Coronavirus Advice for Carers
Coronavirus or COVID-19 is a new illness that can affect your lungs and airways. In light of the recent developments concerning COVID-19 all Carer grouped activity has been cancelled. Although our face to face meeting and support groups are suspended, we are still available on our main telephone contact number: 0333 006 9711 operational between the times of 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday. Alternatively, you can email our advisors: info@birminghamcarershub.org.uk
We have recently produced a What IF plan and a What IF plan template. It’s a simple guide which may help families plan and record useful information for emergency situations that may arise, meaning you are unable to provide care. Take a look – it could be a way giving you a little extra peace of mind at this time.
Carer Update
25 March 2020
In addition, we recommend the following:
- Follow core public health advice
- If you or the person you care for has a medical condition that makes you clinically extremely vulnerable, ensure that you register with the government for essential items/food deliveries
- Remain in regular individual contact with the person you are caring for if you do not live with them by using the telephone, text, What’s App, e-mail and social media etc.
- Ensure that you and the people you care for, as well as people coming into the home, follow hygiene and infection control guidance
- Ensure you make the most of technology to keep in touch with the person you care for, or to make arrangements with your network to keep them in touch with others.
- Remember, if you are registered with our CERS service (Carers Emergency Response Service) you can lean on their support if you’re unable to care due to an emergency. Find out more about our CERS service here or call them to register on 0121 442 2960.
- If you are self-isolating with coronavirus symptoms and over the age of 65, contact As-suffa Outreach Foodbank to arrange a local pack delivery, you can contact them on 0121 285 2777/07835487124, info@as-suffa.org
- Ensure you tap into local resources for support. For example, The Active Wellbeing Society has launched a #BrumTogether campaign focused around four key areas, a befriending service, food distribution, virtual classes and positive stories. Find out more here, if you are an organisation that would like to offer your support, please register here.
- Please avoid contacting Adult Social Care or Adult Care Access Point (ACAP) unless the matter is very urgent or you want to raise a safeguarding alert to report possible abuse or neglect of an adult with care and support needs. If you need to contact (ACAP) as a matter of urgency, email acap@birmingham.gov.uk or call 0121 303 1234.
- Please be aware of scammers who are trying to profit from the coronavirus, please read information issued by West Midlands Police.
If you are unsure if you have coronavirus, use the NHS 111 online assessment here.