A carer is someone who, without payment, provides help to a relative or friend who could not manage otherwise due to illness, disability, frailty, mental health, drug or alcohol issues.
Anyone can be a carer. Some carers care for an ill partner, an elderly parent or a child with additional needs and some carers are children who look after a parent. Many carers combine this with working, running a home and looking after children. Every caring situation is different but what carers have in common is that they usually put their own needs last.
Tell your GP that you are a carer. If you are struggling, please be open and honest about this. Try not to see this as a failure or feel guilty about it; it’s very common amongst carers. Your GP will try and help make things better. This is part of their role.
Contact the Carers’ Resource. The Carers’ Resource gives tailored support and information to unpaid carers and vulnerable people. It is open to everyone and helps people find out what support – financial, practical or emotional – is available and how to access it.
You can contact their Bradford and Airedale team on: