Leftovers

Social care support

A majority (84%) of people with M.E. who took part in our 2014 M.E. Time to deliver survey told us they received daily care from a family member.

Caring for someone with M.E. is likely to have a significant financial and emotional impact on the household as a whole. Thankfully help and support is available to make this easier on you.

The Care Act 2014, the biggest change to adult social care for 60 years, imposed a duty on local authorities to make sure that people who live in their area, and those that care for them, are supported as well as possible to:

• receive services that prevent, reduce and delay their care needs from becoming more serious
• get the information, advice and guidance they need to make good decisions about care and support
• have a good range of care and support providers to choose from.

Carers have rights under the Act and are treated the same as the people they care for. Local authorities have a duty to provide an assessment of needs and provide support to carers: you can request one by contacting your local council’s social services department. You could also ask your GP to make a referral.