Getting help if you're a carer

A carer's assessment, also called an Adult Carer Support Plan in Scotland, works out what your support needs are and whether you qualify for any help from the council. You can arrange one before you start caring or while you’re caring.

If you qualify for support, the local council might provide care and support to the person you care for or provide you with support directly. This could include:

• practical help with things like housework or gardening
• advice about benefits
• leisure activities, such as gym membership
• training to help you feel more confident in your caring role, such as moving and handling training
• emotional support from other carers, such as attending a local carers group
• breaks from caring (called respite care).

You have a right to a carer’s assessment even if the person you help isn’t getting council support or has refused a care needs assessment or services. Whether or not you qualify for council help, the council should give you information and advice about other support options you could explore.

Carer's Allowance, and Carer Support Payment in Scotland, are the main benefits available to carers. For more information about who qualifies, read our webpage What are carers' benefits?.

You may also qualify for other financial support. For example, if you get Carer's Allowance or Carer Support Payment, you could get extra money added to a means-tested benefit, such as Pension Credit.

You could also get grants from charities to help with costs. Turn2us has more information about grants and discount schemes for carers.

For advice on financial support you can get as a carer, read our guide Caring for someone.

You might be able to get support from the following organisations:

• Carers UK – provides an advice service and might be able to put you in touch with local support groups
• Carers Trust – provides information, home care and local support services for carers.

You might want to speak to other people who understand your situation. 

Carers’ organisations may run groups where you can meet other carers. For example, Carers UK has an online forum called Carers Connect, where you can share experiences and tips with others. They can also put you in touch with local support groups.

Organisations offering support for people with specific illnesses may also run carers’ groups. Some examples include:

• Alzheimer's Society or Alzheimer Scotland
• Stroke Association or Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland
• Versus Arthritis
• Macmillan
• Parkinson's UK.

Get in touch with them to find out more.

Carers Trust has local centres offering practical, flexible and personal support – it may be free, depending on where you live. You can also find details of local carers’ services on:

• the NHS website if you live in England
• Care Info Scotland if you live in Scotland
• Carers Wales if you live in Wales.

Tell your GP that you’re a carer and ask them to make a note of this on your records. Your GP can give you information about the medical condition of the person you look after, as well as advice about any physical or mental health issues you may have as a carer. They may put you in touch with support services provided by the NHS and other local sources of support and advice.

Your GP could also:

• arrange medical appointments for you and the person you care for at the same time so you only have to make one visit
• arrange for repeat prescriptions to be delivered to your local pharmacy or home
• provide letters of support to help you claim benefits – some GPs charge for this.

You also qualify for a free flu jab if you’re caring for someone who may be at risk if you become ill – speak to your GP about this.

Different types of equipment or home adaptations can make your life easier and help the person you’re looking after to stay safe and independent. If their council assessment shows that they need an aid or minor adaptation, the council may provide this for free. 

In England, equipment will be free, and adaptations will be free if each one costs less than £1,000. In Scotland and Wales, the charges will depend on the local council's charging policy. There may be grants available for larger adaptations. Read our factsheet Adapting your home to stay independent for more information.

Technology can help the person you care for to live safely at home and give you peace of mind. They could get:

• telecare – alarms and sensors that can detect a range of problems – for example, if they fall out of bed or leave a tap running
• telehealth – a way of monitoring someone’s health remotely through equipment they have in their home. 

They may be able to get telecare as part of a package from your council or they may have to pay for it privately. Take a look at the Living Made Easy website to see what may be available.

You need to know that care would be put in place quickly in an emergency – for example, if you became ill or had to go into hospital. If the person you care for receives help from the council, emergency plans should be included in their care and support plan. If not, you can create one by writing down:

• the name, address and contact details of the person you care for
• who you’d like to be contacted in an emergency
• any medication the person you care for is taking
• any ongoing care or medical treatment they need.

In some areas, there are carer’s emergency card schemes. You can register and get help to draw up an emergency plan. You’ll be given a card with an emergency phone number to carry with you. If you’re unable to provide care in an emergency, you can ring the number and the operator will put your emergency plan into action. Ask your council or a local carers’ organisation if there is a scheme in your area. 

In Scotland, your Adult Carer Support Plan should include information about an emergency plan. Many carer centres can also help with emergency planning. You can also create an emergency plan through ENABLE Scotland.

The person you’re caring for may want to consider putting in place powers of attorney. This would mean you can help them make certain decisions, such as financial decisions, or make them on their behalf in the future if they are unable to do so. For more information, read our factsheet Future planning: Managing my affairs.

Being a carer can be exhausting and you’ll probably need to take a break from time to time. Respite care allows carers time off by providing temporary care. This comes in many forms, including:

• care services at home
• day care centres
• short-term stays in care homes
• sitting services.

Ask your local council for help to arrange respite care.