Carer's assessments in Northern Ireland

• training to help with your caring role, for example, showing you how to move and handle the person you care for, or how to use any specialist equipment
• providing additional services to the person so that you can have a break
• giving you advice about benefits you could be entitled to as a carer. 

You can still have a carer’s assessment even if the person you care for refuses an assessment or doesn’t want care or support. If two or more people are caring for the same person they can all get an assessment for their needs.

The HSCT may pay for your support. Even if the person you are caring for is paying for their own care (self-funding), you may still be able to receive support.

Some types of support for carers, such as respite care, are given directly to the person with dementia. For this to happen, the person will need to be assessed – to work out whether they are eligible for services.

What does a carer’s assessment involve?

The Single assessment tool contains a carer’s assessment. This means that a carer’s assessment is often done at the same time as an assessment of need for the person with dementia.

This can be helpful as your needs may be met by support provided to the person you care for. For example, if you need a short break from your caring role, the HSCT could offer replacement (respite) care to the person with dementia. We have more information on respite care in Northern Ireland .

To arrange your carer’s assessment, speak to your HSCT. What to expect depends on how it has been arranged.

The assessment will usually be carried out by a social worker. It may involve other professionals, such as a GP, but the social worker will arrange this if it is needed.

You will have the opportunity to explain what you do as a carer and also what help and support you would like. The assessment will include questions about:

• how long you have been providing care and support
• when you provide care and support, and how much you provide per week
• whether you assist with the person’s finances and if you have any legal authority – for example, an Enduring power of attorney (EPA)
• whether there have been times you’ve been unable to fulfil your caring role
• whether anyone in the family shares the caring role with you
• whether there is a need to consider contingency care (if something were to happen to you, or you were unable to provide care for some reason, what care and support would need to be provided and who could do this)
• whether your finances have been affected due to caring and if you are claiming anything you are entitled to, for example, Carer’s allowance
• your own health, including your physical and mental health and wellbeing
• any health problems that have been caused by or made worse by caring
• how you view your role, including what you find positive and most difficult, and any concerns you have about the future. 

Self-assessment questionnaire

Sometimes, the HSCT will ask for information through a self-assessment questionnaire. You can ask them for support completing this if you need to. Some local charities may also help with this.

Where the carer’s assessment takes place

The carer’s assessment can be carried out at the same time as the assessment of the person with dementia. If this is the case, it is likely to be done in the home of the person with dementia.

Alternatively, the carer’s assessment may take place separately, or perhaps the person with dementia is not having an assessment themselves. In this case, the assessment should take place somewhere that is convenient for you, for example, in your own home.

Tips for getting the best carer’s assessment outcome for you

There are a few things you can do to prepare for a carer’s assessment. Look through the questions and take your time to think about your answers.

The tips below can help you prepare and get more from your assessment. Think about the support you need. Use these suggestions to make notes or comments on relevant details. Make sure to share these with the professionals during the assessment.

• Create a diary for a few weeks and include all the tasks that you do to support the person with dementia. These could include helping them with washing and dressing or doing their shopping.
• List the care and support that you give the person including when, where and for how long. Include details on any time you spend checking on the person’s wellbeing, or times you respond to phone calls to support them.
• List any welfare benefits that you or the person you are supporting get. The assessor may be able to suggest other benefits if appropriate. If you are not receiving any benefits and think you should be, you can ask the assessor for more information.
• What care and support can you continue to provide? You should not feel pressured into providing care that you are not willing or able to give.
• Do you find your caring role difficult at times? Mention the occasions when you feel irritable, stressed or depressed. If appropriate, include any physical health problems caused or made worse by your caring role.
• Are there things you can’t do or find difficult as a result of caring? You may not have time to clean your home, go to work or see your friends.
• Think about what support would help you now and in the future, as the person’s dementia progresses. This could be arranging respite care so you can have a break, or practical help, such as equipment or training.
• Be open and honest. You might find it difficult to talk about how you feel at first, but remember that the assessor is there to support you. To get the best results from your assessment, they need to understand how you are managing.

If you are having an assessment at the same time as the person with dementia, it may be difficult to share your feelings. See if it’s possible to speak with the assessor separately if you’d prefer the person not to hear about difficulties you’re having because of their dementia.

Once an assessment has been completed, the HSCT will decide if it will pay for care and support for you. They will consider whether you are eligible and also your financial situation. For more information, see our guidance to Financial assessments in Northern Ireland.

If you are not satisfied with the way an assessment was done, or with the outcome of an assessment, you can make a complaint. You will need to explain why you are not satisfied, your reasons and the outcome you are looking for.