A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member, who due to illness, disability, age-related difficulties, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot manage every-day tasks without their support.
Many people provide care for someone without realising they are a carer. This is often because people see it as part of their role as a partner, relative or friend; or because the care they provide has increased slowly over a period of time.
Caring tasks can include any of the following:
- Emotional support, like listening and talking
- Household chores like cleaning, cooking, washing, ironing or shopping
- Medication support such as picking up medication, reminding about medication, or physically helping someone with tablets or creams
- Personal care like help with eating, getting to the toilet, washing and dressing
- Physical care ensuring the person can move around their home
Providing any level or type of care for someone can impact on your own life, leaving less time for you to live your own life and look after your own health and wellbeing.
Carers can access wide range of support to assist them in providing the best care they can, and enable them to look after themselves.