Support for carers

Caring for someone is part of everyday life for many people. You might support a parent, partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour with practical tasks, emotional support or day-to-day activities.

Many people do not think of themselves as carers. They simply see what they do as helping someone they care about.

We use the Care Act 2014 legal framework and define a carer as someone in an unpaid role who provides, or intends to provide, care and support to another adult.

Carers can be:

• mums and dads
• husbands and wives
• partners
• brothers and sisters
• friends and neighbours

Across the UK, millions of people provide unpaid care. Around 1.3 million unpaid carers spend more than 50 hours a week supporting someone.

Whatever your caring role looks like, there is information, advice and support available for both you and the person you care for.

Look after yourself

It's important that you look after yourself. This includes your physical and mental wellbeing, as well as living a comfortable and happy life. Here are some great tips to look after yourself:

• Tell your doctor you're an unpaid carer. They can update their records to inform health care professionals you are an unpaid carer.
• Talk to other loved ones. Don't forget to take time for yourself, meet up with a friend for a coffee, take up a new hobby together or simply have a break from caring through one of our short breaks.
• Reach out if you need help. Don't feel alone if you need some support with your mental health if you feel that it's getting too much for you. Our mental health and wellbeing webpages have lots of great support to help you.
• Keep active and health, visit our One You Kent webpage or visit Active Kent and Medway to find great options for keeping fit and staying healthy ideas!
• Talk to other unpaid carers, our carer support organisations can offer you help, advice, training and support in your role as a carer. They can talk to you about your needs as well as the needs of the person you care for, and then let you know how they can help.

Financial help

As an unpaid carer, you or the person you care for may be eligible to receive financial support, whether this is through benefits or cost of living support. See what financial help is available.

Balancing work and caring

If you work, don't forget to tell your employer. They can help you to look at options to help you, such as working in a flexible way or taking time out for yourself or to get the person you care for to their appointments.

We have been working with unpaid carers and local charity Mending the Gap to raise awareness with employers across Kent to raise awareness of unpaid carers. We want you to know that someone's listening.

See how your employer can help you.

Download our Someone's Listening employer leaflet (PDF, 892.7 KB) to show your employer.

Helping the person you care for

• Sign up to the Kent and Medway Carer's Emergency Card - if you become unwell or in an accident, did you know you by carrying a Kent and Medway Carers’ Emergency Card, someone close to you may be contacted in those situations so that the person you care for can be supported while you're unavailable.
• Check that the person you care for has had a care needs assessment – any adult can complete a self-assessment to arrange a social care from us.
• Join a Kent library and see how we can support you and those who you care for.
• Learn what technology and equipment can be added to a home.
• Apply for a Blue Badge - this helps you to park close to your destination, either as a passenger or driver for free.
• If the person you care for is getting help from us, learn more about the charges for social care support, including help from NHS continuing healthcare.
• Download our Someone's Listening carer leaflet (PDF, 596.3 KB) for shareable support and advice.

Getting support through a carer's assessment

If you care for an adult friend or family member, you may be able to get more help. This help will allow you to keep caring and to look after yourself.

To see what help we can offer you and the person you care for, get in touch to request a carer's assessment. The assessment will help to decide what support you need and how much help we can give you.

Request a carers assessment

We also offer a printed version of the support available to carers via our Guide to Adult Social Care booklet (PDF, 306.1 KB). If you need us to provide information in an alternative format, such as braille or a language other than English: