Lisa's Story

Lisa, a carer for her elderly parents, was referred to us from our Direct Payment Support Service while she was in the process of recruiting a Personal Assistant (PA) for her mother. During an initial phone call with one of our Independent Living Advisors (ILAs), Lisa expressed how little support she was receiving in her caring role. The ILA recommended our Carer Support Service, and a dedicated officer got in touch to explore her needs further.

It became clear that Lisa was providing full-time care for both parents. She had stopped working to fulfil this role, leaving her struggling financially, and with little family support, she was becoming increasingly isolated. While she had secured 15 hours per week of PA support for her mother, this alone was not enough to relieve the significant pressures she was under.

Our team provided targeted support by:

• Supporting Lisa through another Direct Payment assessment, this time for her father, resulting in an additional 10 hours per week.
• Referring her to Welfare Rights for a Carer’s Assessment to address her wellbeing needs.
• Connecting her to local carers’ groups to reduce her isolation and help her build a support network.
• Offering her a free Blue Sky Social Care Card, which formally recognises her role as a carer and provides access to discounts both online and on the high street.

Outcomes after eight months:

• Lisa successfully manages the Direct Payments for her parents and has recruited three PAs to cover the 25 hours.
• With the extra support in place, she has been able to return to part-time work.
• She is now receiving Carer’s Allowance, easing her financial pressures.
• By attending her local carers’ group, Lisa has built connections and reduced her feelings of isolation.
• The Blue Sky Social Care Card has helped Lisa feel recognised in her caring role, while also easing financial strain through everyday discounts.