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Finding out what practical support is available with caring is important, but can feel overwhelming. The information on this page should help you get started.
There are two key assessments to help you get support for both yourself and the person who has had a stroke: a carer’s assessment and a care needs assessment. We explain what each of these are, how they can help you, and how to request them.
These assessments can be carried out together if both you and the stroke survivor agree.
Carer’s assessment
A carer’s assessment looks at the impact that caring has on your life. It’s usually called an adult carer support plan in Scotland and often called a carer’s needs assessment in Wales.
The assessment identifies what support you might need to help you in your caring role and improve your wellbeing. You are entitled to an assessment and to receive help, even if the person you care for refuses help. You don’t have to live with them or be a full-time carer.
It’s carried out by your local authority’s adult social services team (or health trust in Northern Ireland). It’s done by a professional such as a social worker or therapist.
You can request an assessment by contacting:
The assessment looks at how much caring you do (or will do) and how that affects you. This includes:
- Your wellbeing – mental and physical health
- Your ability to work, study or train
- Maintaining your social networks
- Looking after children or others
- Taking breaks or doing leisure activities.
Before your assessment, think about the impact of caring on your life and what kind of support you might need. Carers UK has a checklist of things to consider as well as more information and advice.
Your local council will tell you if you qualify for help and what help you can get. This can vary according to your needs, but could include:
- Respite care
- Putting you in touch with local support groups
- Training in safe lifting or other skills.
Care needs assessment
This assessment looks at the care needs of the person who’s had a stroke. If someone is leaving hospital, a care needs assessment might be arranged as part of the discharge plan. But you can request one at any time.
The assessment is carried out by a social care professional, often an occupational therapist or social worker. Contact your local authority's adult social services team to request it.
It assesses what support someone may need with everyday tasks, including:
- Dressing
- Using the toilet
- Seeing family and friends.
A care plan is agreed with the person being assessed. The plan could be about:
- Home adaptations like grab rails or equipment like a walking frame
- Having paid carers or meals delivered
- Opportunities to socialise, such as at a day centre.
Support for young carers
Children and young people often get involved in caring in different ways, such as helping adult carers in the household or supporting with communication.
The Carers Trust has dedicated information about available support for young carers.
Paying for care
The council has a duty to meet the needs of someone needing care. You’ll usually be expected to pay towards the cost of care. Your council will carry out a means test (financial assessment) to decide how much someone should pay. Your income and savings must be below a certain level to get council funding. Money Helper has more details on how means testing works.
In Scotland, however, personal care (such as help with bathing) and nursing care is free, if the person has been assessed as needing this care by their local council. Carers UK has more information.
Some people with long-term, complex health needs may qualify for free social care which is paid for and arranged by the NHS. This is called NHS Continuing Healthcare (or Hospital Based Complex Clinical Care in Scotland). You can get independent advice from Beacon online or by calling them on 0345 548 0300.
Get individual advice
The rules about funding for care, including respite care, are complex. It’s a good idea to get independent advice from a specialist agency.
The charities Independent Age and Age UK provide individual advice and support.
Types of care
Depending on what’s needed, care can be provided at home or in a residential setting.
- Homecare: These services may help with personal care (for example, getting in and out of bed, bathing, dressing), daycare and meals on wheels. They often involve professional carers coming to your home to help. If the person is eligible for council funding, they can use care services arranged by the council or decide to get direct payments and arrange their own homecare.
- Residential care: If someone is assessed as needing a temporary stay in residential care, their assets are calculated in a way that assumes they'll be returning home. If they need a permanent move into a care home, the value of the home might be included in the means test. It's ignored if a partner or dependent is living there and other rules also apply. If the person is eligible for NHS Continuing Healthcare, the NHS should pay for their care. We have more information on paying for a care home.
- Respite care (sometimes called short breaks): This allows you to take a break from caring. This can range from a trained care assistant or volunteer helping at home for a few hours a week to a stroke survivor going to a residential or nursing home for a longer period. Respite services vary widely, so ask your local council (or health and social care trust in Northern Ireland) about what is available in your area. A care needs assessment and carer’s assessment can determine if you need to pay towards respite care. The Respite Association also offers support to those caring for a loved one or someone close to them.
Other sources of help
Depending on where you live, some charities may be able to provide some types of help at home.
- Some local Age UK branches: paid-for help with household tasks like shopping, laundry and housework. Call 0800 678 1602 to find what’s available in your area.
- The British Red Cross: help with some basic tasks like shopping and transport in the 12 weeks after a hospital discharge (a referral from a GP or health professional is needed).
- Some people choose to pay a private agency for homecare. Your local council’s social services department should have a list of approved providers. The Homecare Association also has a tool where you can search for providers which have signed up to its code of practice.
If you want to know what financial help you can get towards caring for someone, we have information on financial support for carers.
Whether you need information or help, or to chat when times are tough, the Stroke Support Helpline is always just a phone call or email away.
Call us on: 0303 3033 100
Email: helpline@stroke.org.uk