"Carer's Allowance and support received over 36 years from various professionals"

The carer mentioned that she and her husband have received some fantastic support from staff. The carer has been caring for her husband for 36 years, but has only recently received a carer's allowance and this has helped with their finances. This is thanks to Andrea for putting her in contact with Gary (Benefits Officer based at Mansfield). The carer's allowance could only be backdated 3 months not 36 years! She feels communication could be improved and that through chance conversations she finds out about things such as carer's allowance. She would love more activities for her husband to do during the day. He used to have a support worker from MIND who visited him once a fortnight and took him out for a walk and a coffee. This gave her some respite. He also used to attend a sailing group at Kirton with Sutti which stopped 2 or 3 years ago. She'd love some carer's respite again! She mentioned that both her and her husband love the monthly visits from Andrea and Sutti. As a carer she feels that she is really listened to: ) Her husband met Sutti at Rosewood Involvement Centre in Ollerton and has struck up a real rapport and relationship with her. They'll both be very sad to see her go when she retires this month. Thank you Sutti!

She mentioned that her husband's psychiatrist is very good at her job and her husband has an excellent rapport with her. She even went the extra mile recently when her husband's mother was in hospital and made an emergency home visit as her husband's mental health was deteriorating.