We support carers of any age who provide or intend to provide a substantial amount of care on a regular basis.  This care could include personal care, physical or practical help, help with medical matters or supervising someone who is at risk.  While carers may be eligible for state benefits, they are not paid for the care they provide.

Before we can help a carer, we have to carry out an assessment of need.  To be eligible for an assessment a carer should be:

• providing care to someone who would be eligible for services from us; and
• providing a substantial amount of care on a regular basis.

Carers may be caring for:

• children (under 16) with disabilities,
• people (aged 16 and over) with physical disabilities,
• people with visual impairments (blindness) or hearing impairments (deafness),
• people with mental illnesses (like dementia, depression and schizophrenia),
• people with drug and/or alcohol related problems, or
• people with learning disabilities.

(Photo courtesy of Princess Royal Trust for Carers.)