Help us to help others! Become a Friend of Advocare!
Friends of Advocare are people who give some of their time and expertise to help us further our aims in helping carers and former carers.
In the UK there are approximately six million adults (one in ten) who are carers: older carers are the most disadvantaged group in Britain. They save this country around GBP 87 billion a year.
Dorset has around 105 000 people aged 60+, many of whom are carers on low incomes. Poole has around 16 600 carers, mostly an 'invisible' population looking after someone who is frail, sick or disabled. Bournemouth has a similar population and with the 42 000 carers in Dorset this means there is a total of between 70 000 to 80 000 carers across the county.
Advocare - Caring for Carers
Advocare - Caring for Carers is a small charity that supports unpaid family carers of frail, sick or disabled loved ones and empowers them to have a free voice. Its free Caring for Carers service is distinctive, in that it is run by carers for carers. As far as we know it is the only independent organisation of its kind in the country. In supporting carers appropriately we help them to head off crisis, help to prevent premature or unwanted institutionalisation of their loved ones and help to prevent carers from becoming patients themselves.
Advocare's primary aims and objectives
- To support carers and former carers
- To empower carers and former carers
- To enable carers and former carers to have a free voice
We offer a friendly, confidential 'listening ear' and support carers individually, by telephone, home visits and also through group activities.
If required we advocate on behalf of the carer and support those who wish to advocate on their own behalf.
Advocare does its utmost to protect carers and their loved-ones from any backlash when making representations on their behalf.
To enable carers and former carers to have a free, independent voice Advocare encourages group advocacy on policy matters such as the need for improved transport services to prevent social exclusion of people with mobility problems.
Addressing some of the 'invisible' aspects of caring
Even though it is well recognised that long-term stress has an adverse effect on a person's health, GPs tend to offer carers medication for stress-related conditions instead of referring them to sources of psychological or emotional support. Accordingly Advocare has developed the Assert programme using our own insights and experience. We have also formulated a specialised After-care programme for those who feel 'stuck' or isolated when their full-time caregiving role ends. Specialised workshops on mindfulness help carers and former carers to deal with the demands and legacies of their caregiving role.
We are working to provide free of charge:
- A Caring for Carers out of hours telephone line;
- More carer-centred workshops;
- A full advocacy service which includes free legal representation;
- Drop-in centres (Advocafés) across Dorset and ultimately nationwide with 'quiet' rooms;
- Affordable door-to-door transport for those with poor mobility to reduce social exclusion.
Advocare's main aim is to reach carers before they reach crisis point
At present, carers in distress contact Advocare or are referred to us as a last resort. Advocare intends to become the first port of call for carers and former carers who need help. We believe prevention is better and cheaper than cure: thus the overarching aim of Advocare - Caring for Carers is to reach carers before they reach crisis point.
Enhancing the status of carers: Setting the scene for a sea-change
We are currently formulating Advocare's Charter for Carers to enhance the status of carers, especially those who are sole advocates. Advocare's Charter for Carers is a unifying 'rapid response' strategy underpinned by a legal framework that will enable carers to obtain swift solutions to problems with bureaucracy and thereby reduce the suffering of the vulnerable people they care for.
If you are interested in helping us to reach carers before they reach crisis point and in enhancing the status of carers, we would like to hear from you. For more details on how to become a Friend of Advocare please contact Cathey on (01202) 737592.