Taking on a Caring Role

• Looking after someone
  Support and information for people caring for someone who is old, disabled or ill. Health information, your rights and entitlements, carer's assessment, finding support, financial and legal matters, and balancing caring with work.
  
• Join the Kirklees Carers' Gateway Register
  If you live locally and provide regular care for someone, the carers' register will provide you with information over what is available to help you.
• Parent Support
  Information about resources, training and information to inform you

• Mental Health Support
  Organisations in Kirklees giving support to people with mental health problems and their carers

Support for You

• Having a Break
  From time to time, it helps if you rely on someone to care for you - a relative or friend - for you both to have a break. As a carer it may help you get a break yourself if the person you care for goes away for a short time.
• Carers Information (external)
  This site provides up to date resources and information on issues relevant to carers and those professionals who assist them in their role.
  
• Organisations Which Can Help in Kirklees
  
• Time off work to care for dependants (external)
• Carers UK (external)
  Carers UK is an organisation of carers fighting to end this injustice.

Day Care

• Oler peoples' social groups including Lunch Clubs
  Lunch Clubs offer older people a hot midday meal and can help develop interests and meet friends.
  
• Day Care services for older people
  Our day care services are designed to support people who continue to live at home, by providing occasional or regular opportunities to get out and about.
• Day care centres
  List of day care services in the Kirklees area
• Day care services for older people Q&A

Practical help for you and the person you are caring for

• Care at Home - Living independently
  The services which we provide in Kirklees, specifically designed to help people with a disability, and others, to continue to live independently and safely in their own homes.
• Care Homes
  Search the Care Homes database for care homes in the Kirklees area.
• Care Phones
  Kirklees Council can provide a special telephone which enables you, or someone you care for, by pressing a button on a pendant, get straight through to emergency help at any time of the day or night.
• Emergency Duty Team
  This service can help people who need help at night. A team of experienced social workers are available who can respond to people who have urgent needs when the area social work offices are closed.
• Services for People who are Blind or Partially Sighted
  If you are blind or partially sighted and are finding it difficult to manage you may be able to get help from our Sensory Disabilities Resource Team.
• Services for People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
  If you are deaf or hard of hearing and are finding it hard to manage you can get help and support from our Sensory Disabilities Resource Team.
• Supported and Sheltered Housing
  Information about Supported and Sheltered Housing for older people in Kirklees.

Travel

• Travel Passes for People with Disabilities
  If you have one of the disabilities listed below and are under retirement age, you can travel free transport - buses, trains and tubes. You will need to apply for a Travel Pass which is normally valid for two years. There is also a Blind Person Permit.
• Blue Badge Scheme - Concessionary Parking for People with Disabilities
  You can apply for a badge for your car as the driver or a passenger if you have a disability and meet one of the conditions listed. This normally allows you to park near to your destination without the risk of getting parking tickets.
• Marked Parking Bays
  If you have a permanent and severe disability and need to be able to park close to where you live, we can mark out a parking space in the road. You should normally be an Blue Badge holder. This service is particularly for disabled drivers.

Holidays

• Holidays for the disabled
  Search the Association of British Travel Agents website for travel companies specialising in holidays for the disabled
• Holidays in the UK for disabled people
  There are many types of holiday to suit people with different impairments or disabilities. these are some ideas and contacts to find a suitable holiday.
• Holiday Care
  Information on hundreds of accessible hotels and visitor attractions in the UK and abroad from Holiday Care.

Dementia Support

• Dementia Support in Kirklees Groups run by Age Concern. Referral from Social Services is required for these groups which are targeted at older people who have been confused or suffer from some degree of dementia & helps them to remain independent.
  
• Local groups giving dementia support
  Listing of all local groups with links to details
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Drugs and Alcohol Support

• Q&A about the Priority Neighbourhood Project for People with Drug and Alcohol Problems
  The Priority Neighbourhoods Project team supports neighbourhoods which are experiencing high levels of crime, including drug and alcohol misuse. Contact information
  
  
• Calderdale & Kirklees Parents & Relatives Support Group (drugs)
  If someone in your family is experiencing problems because of use of drugs or alcohol this group may be able to give some support
  
  
• Gasped (Group Awareness & Support For Parents Encountering Drugs)
  (external)
  Gasped offers information, advice, help & support to parents, partners, families & carers of drug users. 24 hour helpline.

Legal issues

• Legislation and legal issues affecting carers (external)
  This web site provides resources to support informal carers including legal issues

Benefits and finance

• Q&A about Benefits for Carers (external)
• Disabled persons tax credit (external)
• Disability living allowance (external)
• Incapacity benefit (external)
• Council Tax
  You or the person you care for may qualify for a council tax discount
• Carers allowance(external)
  How this affects other benefits.
• Carers housing benefits (external)
• Home responsibilities protection (external)
• Help with health costs (external)