Looking After Me

Looking After Me is a free course for adults who care for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability. As its name implies, the course is about you making time to look after your own health needs. It aims to help you to take more control of your situation and make a difference to your life.

What is the EPP CIC Looking after Me course?

Looking After Me is a free course for adults who care for someone living with a long-term health condition or disability.

As its name implies, the course is about you making time to look after your own health needs. It aims to help you to take more control of your situation and make a difference to your life.

The course looks at:

• Relaxation techniques
• Dealing with tiredness
• Exercise
• Healthy eating
• Coping with depression
• Communicating with family, friends and professionals
• Planning for the future

Who can take part?

Any adult who gives help to a relative or friend who is ill, disabled, elderly or in need of emotional support - any carer.

or

Any adult who is a carer and whose health is affected by this (back injury, stress-related illnesses, psychological ill-health, for example).

Practicalities

Looking after Me is led by trained tutors who themselves have experience of caring for a relative or friend. The course is run over six weekly sessions, each lasting two-and-a-half hours.

How can it help you?

By taking part in a Looking after Me course, you will:

• Learn new skills to help you to cope with your caring situation
• Develop the confidence to take more control of your life
• Meet with others who share similar experiences

How has it helped others?

People who have taken part in a Looking after Me course have reported that it has helped them to:

• Feel confident and more in control of their life
• Manage their caring situation more effectively
• Be realistic about the impact of their caring situation on themselves and their family
• Develop more effective relationships with health and care professionals
• Use their skills and knowledge to lead a fuller life

What course participants say

Safina - Halifax

“At first I thought that I couldn’t spare the time, two hours a week, but the course was a revelation – it showed me there was light at the end of the tunnel and completely turned my life around.”

Safina Wahid, an intelligent and articulate mother of two, has a full and busy life working as a driving instructor, looking after her children and caring for her husband who lives with bi-polar disorder.

More on Safina's story