What is an unpaid carer?
Being a carer is an important and rewarding role. Carers provide unpaid support to people who need help with daily living arrangements due to disability, long-term conditions and illness.
Anyone can become a carer at any point in their life. In many cases, people are likely to have been providing support for some time before identifying themselves as a carer.
A carer is someone who provides unpaid support to a person who cannot cope without help. This person may be a loved one, family member, friend, or neighbour. This could involve:
- Helping with personal care, such as washing.
- Supporting with cooking and household tasks.
- Providing companionship and emotional support.
- Helping with appointments or managing medication.
If you think you are or will become an unpaid carer, support is available:
- Look after yourself. Caring can be demanding. Prioritise your well-being, make time for yourself and seek help if you need it.
- Identify yourself. Register as an unpaid carer with Harrow Carers to better understand your role and available support. Also speak to your GP to access regular health checks. See Carer Registrations
- Access support. Support services enable unpaid carers to access free information, advice, and practical support to manage their role and live well. This includes emotional and financial support and help to build skills and networks around a life of caring. See, Support for unpaid carers
- Request a carer's assessment. All unpaid carers are entitled to a free assessment of their support needs. The assessment aims to understand the caring situation, role and needs, and identify available support. In some situations, carers may have eligible support needs and therefore access to financial support to such as a personal budget or carer's grant.
Caring for someone is a big responsibility. As an unpaid carer, you are not alone and we’re here to help.