Are you a carer?
Date updated: 15/12/2023
You can call Adult Social Care on 020 7332 1224 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) or 020 8356 2300 (outside normal working hours).
If you take care of someone without pay, you may be a carer.
There are different kinds of carer.
- Adult carer - you are an adult that looks after another adult. You might provide help to and elderly relative, a friend, or an adult with physical or learning disabilities. They could also be an ill husband, wife or partner.
- Parent carer - you are a parent that takes care of a child with a special educational need or disability (SEND) for whom you have responsibility.
- Young carer - you are under 18 years old and take care for someone else - they might be a relative with a disability, illness, mental health condition, or drug or alcohol problem.
As a carer you will probably care for:
- a person with disabilities
- someone who has mental ill health or learning difficulties
- someone recovering from a recent illness or injury
- someone with a long-term illness
- a person with age-related difficulties
- and more
You might support them through:
- 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.
and more
A carer is unpaid and is not employed or a volunteer.
If you are a carer, request a Carer's Assessment.