Overview

You are a carer if you provide or arrange care for someone else who cannot care for themselves. A carer is not paid for what they do and is different from a paid professional like a care worker or home help.

As a carer you may support:

• a family member, such as your child, parent, sibling or other relatives
• your partner
• a friend
• a neighbour.

You may provide a range of support, including:

• giving emotional support
• helping someone cope with a mental health problem
• cooking and cleaning
• personal care, like washing and going to the toilet
• budgeting and looking after finances
• giving medicine or providing medical care
• interpreting for someone who is deaf or who does not have English as their first language
• reading information and filling in forms for someone who has literacy or concentration difficulties.