Directory: Carers

If you or someone you know are worried about or affected by dementia, we are here for you. You can speak to friendly experts on our helpline. We have information to help you understand dementia and what to expect, and practical advice and support to help you to live as well as possible with the condition.

Carer support for anyone living in the Bath or North East Somerset; their support line is open on weekdays 8.15 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The Royal British Legion provides lifelong support for the Armed Forces community – serving men and women, veterans, and their families. This includes Admiral Nurses, Care Homes and Holiday Breaks. Legion beneficiaries can be either the person with dementia or the carer.

Glastonbury Carers Group meet on the third Monday of each month at Saint John’s Church, High St, Glastonbury BA6 9DR from 10.30am to 12 noon

The carers group takes place in the church alongside other activities including Talking Cafe, Tai Chi, poetry group and Art as Therapy.

Shepton Mallet Carers group meet on the second Wednesday of the month between 2:00pm – 3:30pm at The Brasserie (Haskins Retail Centre), 66 High Street, Shepton Mallet, BA4 5AS.

The person you care for can attend the Love to Move seated exercise session, whilst you join the carers group to share laughs, ideas and experiences in a relaxed supportive and safe atmosphere.

For more information contact Cath on the number below.

There are two Carers’ Groups that meet in Wells.

Bishop’s Palace meeting room near the cafe on 2nd Friday of the month, 11am to 12.30pm
The Swan Hotel, Sadler Street, BA5 2RX on 4th Wednesday of the month, 10am to 11.30am

The Card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a complimentary ticket for someone to go with them when they visit a participating cinema. The Card is also one way for cinemas to make sure they look after their disabled guests. If you require an adjustment to visit a cinema because of your disability, cinema staff should make them for you whether you have a CEA Card or not.

A dementia support service which provides one-to-one support to people with dementia, carers and family members. The service is unique to their personal circumstances and needs. The dementia support service may provide individuals with information and practical support to help them understand more about dementia, cope with day to day living with dementia and prepare for the future.

The dementia support workers aim to help people feel less isolated, and feel supported to maintain their independence, make choices and take control of their life by:

• listening to and answering any questions
• providing accurate, clear, relevant and useful information that is easy to understand
• helping individuals understand more about dementia and their diagnosis
• offering practical advice and coping strategies for living with dementia day-to-day
• making people aware of other services available to them
• empowering individuals to access and build wider support networks.

The service can also take calls from people worried about their memory and support to get a diagnosis.

Run by Heads Up Connect, these groups provide opportunities to connect with other carers and find out information over a cuppa.

4th Wednesday of the month, 10am to 11.30pm at The Swan Hotel, Wells BA5 2RX.

Other groups run at The Bishop’s Palace, Wells and Heads Up’s centre in South Horrington. There is a new carers group in Glastonbury above Burns the Bread, on the high Street, on 3 March 2022. The groups are run by Heads Up Connect.

Micro-providers are providers of very small, community based care and support services. They provide help at home in the Mendip area and across Somerset.

The easiest route to finding a micro-provider is to use an online search tool called the ‘Brokerage Tool’.

What will happen when I use the tool?

By filling in the online form you will input the type of support you are looking for, your location and your support preferences. Once submitted these details will automatically be sent to Somerset County Council approved micro-providers in your area, who will view the support request. An email will then be sent to you listing the details of any micro-providers who are available and interested in the opportunity.

To use the new Brokerage Tool, please click here

If you would like to review a list of micro-providers in your area, you can visit the Somerset Community Connect website. You can use the website to search for micro-providers by location and type of service required.

You can also find information under the Advice and Information section on Somerset Community Connect’s website, which explains what micro-providers are and how they meet certain quality and safety standards.

Frome and District Carers Group meet the first Wednesday of each month at Frome Cricket Club, Rodden Road, Frome BA11 2AH , 10.30am to 12.30pm.

Health Connectors are based in all the GP practices in the Mendip area. We can help you in a number of ways. We can work with you on a one-to-one basis – we listen to what is important to you and work with you on issues that you would like support with. We can link you up with services and organisations, help you manage long term conditions, help you meet new people, join groups or set goals that might improve your health and wellbeing. We can also help you set up new groups if it is needed in your area. We see people in GP practices or in your home if you are housebound. As well as linking you to groups and services, we also run groups such as Talking Cafes, Be Healthy Be Happy and Pain Management programmes.

The HOPE Programme is a free self-management course designed to empower individuals to discover their strengths and find new ways to cope with whatever life throws at them. Supported by trained facilitators, people will be able to meet others in the same situation and learn new skills that will help them on their journey to feeling better and more hopeful.

Independent Age is a national charity providing support for older people facing financial hardship. They can offer free impartial advice and information on what matters most, money, housing, and care. Independent Age financially support local community organizations across the UK through their grants programme.

You can call their freephone Helpline, listed below,  Monday – Friday: 8.30am – 5.30pm (closed on bank holidays). You can also email your query to the address below to speak to one of the advisors.

Jointly is an app that makes caring for someone a little easier, less stressful and a lot more organised by making communication and coordination between those who share the care as easy as a text message. It can be accessed by laptop, smart phone or desktop computer.

RBL have six care homes across the UK for Armed Forces community and their families, five have with specialist dementia care.

Community Council for Somerset provide a carers support service that is available to all unpaid carers, whether you care for a few hours or provide a substantial amount. They give good quality local information, emotional support and practical advice to help you in your caring role. They also work closely with the other specialist carer support networks. This service is to support you as a carer. It does not replace assessed care and support provided by the local authority.

Somerset Council Council provides support, advice and respite breaks for children and young people under 18 who have substantial caring responsibilities at home.

Please visit the website for more information, support, guidance and advice or for groups being run across Somerset.

Crispin Community Center, Leigh Road, Street BA16 0HA.  Second Monday of each month between 10.30a.m  and 12 pm. Activities include demonstration, outings and local speakers for the carer.

Are you a young carer? If you’re aged between 8 and 16 then please come along to the Zone and meet new friends who are in the same boat!

Wednesdays 6pm-8p.m. Fortnightly at Rise, Whittox Lane, Frome, BA11 3BY .

Please contact us to discuss a place as places are limited.

Village Agents are local people employed on a part-time basis to become trusted members of their communities and a valuable resource. Village Agents make home visits when necessary and provide high-quality information. They enable direct access to a wide range of services and use a secure electronic referral system. They may informally carry out a series of practical checks related to safety in the home (e.g. smoke alarms, falls prevention), benefit entitlement and energy efficiency. Visits are followed up when necessary by experts who will provide specialist information, advice and services, e.g. the fire service and social care.