Carers are people who provide regular help to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour due to frailty, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.  The care they provide is unpaid. 

Sometimes people do not recognise themselves as carers, especially when they are looking after a spouse/partner, close relative or friend.

For example, Sarah looks after her mum who is 76 and frail. Her mum does not live with her but lives close by. Sarah, who works, visits her mum every day and does most of her cooking, cleaning and shopping. She also helps her mum get in and out of the bath as she cannot manage by herself. As well as being a daughter, Sarah is also a carer.

Carers under the age of 18 are called young carers. Find out about support for young carers.

Who can help?

York Carers Centre is the first place carers should seek help. They are an independent body that helps unpaid carers in York find the support they need.

Carers could also find out more about all the services and support available in York by downloading 'A Quick Guide to Services for Carers'

• Caring for others can be a satisfying and rewarding thing to do.  However, for may carers it can also become challenging and stressful.
• Many carers are juggling lots of different things, such as working or caring for a family.
• Keeping up a job can be very difficult – some carers feel that they have to give up work to carry on caring.
• Some carers can struggle to make ends meet, especially if they are on benefits. Carers are not always aware of their benefit entitlements.
• The practical tasks of caring can be very tiring, and your own health can start to suffer.
• Caring can be emotionally stressful.
• Caring can become very isolating, as it can sometimes leave little time or energy to go out and have time to yourself.