Who’s considered to be a carer?
A carer is someone who provides regular, unpaid care to a partner, relative or friend who needs support. This could be due to illness, disability or age-related issues. There are an estimated 10.6 million carers in this country, according to Carers UK.
You can be a part-time carer alongside paid work, or take on the role full-time. Caring responsibilities could include helping with personal tasks, housework and medical management. The amount of care required will depend on your loved one’s needs and your circumstances.
Reasons for becoming a carer
There are many reasons someone could become a carer. It could be out of love and a sense of duty to help a family member or friend in need. Sometimes there aren’t affordable or suitable care options available. Cultural and familial expectations can also play a big part.
Caring for a loved one can be very rewarding and give you a sense of purpose. But it can also be physically and emotionally challenging. Especially when balancing other responsibilities.
What does providing care as a family member involve?
As a carer, your tasks will depend on the needs and health of the person you’re caring for. Below are some of the most common caring tasks.
- Personal care - washing, dressing and helping someone into bed and to the bathroom. Providing personal care can be one of the most difficult aspects of caring, as you need lots of patience and physical strength.
- Household jobs - cooking, cleaning, shopping, running errands or managing finances and paperwork.
- Companionship - conversation, emotional support or helping with daily activities and appointments. Simply being there can make a huge difference.
- Managing health - monitoring their health, managing medicines and appointments. Or speaking to doctors and nurses on their behalf.
What you have to do each day depends on the needs of the person you care for. What they can and can’t do for themselves may change over time, so you need to be flexible. What can start out as helping with a few chores could turn into round-the-clock care.
The impact of caring on family carers
Being a carer could change your own life in many ways, so it’s important to consider the full picture.
- You could feel lonely - especially if your caring responsibilities take up most of your day.
- It could make you unwell - if you’re focused on the needs of someone else, you may end up neglecting your own health.
- You may experience money troubles - for example if you need to reduce your working hours, give up work or are unable to continue contributing to your pension.
- It can impact your personal life - you could find it difficult to balance caring responsibilities and seeing your friends and family.
- Your mental health could suffer - if you’re always looking after someone else; the responsibility might feel too much.
- You might have trouble sleeping - especially if you need to take care of someone during the night.
- You might have less time for yourself - with your focus elsewhere, you may end up missing out on the things you enjoy doing, such as hobbies and leisure activities.
Caring can be very difficult. So it’s important to prepare, as much as time allows, and to take help and support where available.
Support for family carers
Looking after yourself is crucial to avoid burnout and ensure you can continue providing good care to your loved one. If possible, try to share care duties with other family members or nurses. There may be financial and emotional support available, depending on your circumstances, including:
- Carer’s Allowance - a government benefit to help with the extra costs of caring. You need to be caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week to qualify, and it depends on your income.
- Other benefits - you might be eligible for Universal Credit, Pension Credit, or help with NHS prescription costs depending on your situation.
- Carer’s Assessment - your local council can assess your needs and those of the person you care for. This can help you access practical support services such as equipment, respite care or transport.
- Respite care - short-term care that allows you to take a break. This can be given at home, in a care centre, or through day care. Even a few hours can make a big difference for full-time carers.
- Training - contact your local council or charities such as Age UK and Carers UK for training services. These programmes can help you learn caregiving skills and techniques.
- Support groups and online resources - connecting with other carers can help you get support and tips. Sharing experiences with others in a similar situation can help you know you’re not alone in facing these challenges.
- Counselling - caring can be tough on your body and mental health. Counselling provides a safe space to express your emotions and helps you manage your wellbeing while you care for your loved one.
Do I need consent to become a family carer?
You might need consent from your loved one before becoming their caregiver. Whether you need it depends on their mental capacity to express their wishes and make decisions about their care.
If your relative has capacity - they have the right to choose who cares for them and how. Ideally they’d fully consent to you becoming their carer and you’d have open discussions about their needs and preferences.
If your relative doesn’t have capacity - this means they can’t make informed decisions about their care. You’d need to find out if they have a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) for their health and welfare.
A Lasting Power of Attorney is a legal document that gives authority to a relative or friend where someone lacks capacity themselves. In England and Wales, there are two types:
property and financial affairs - covers decisions about money, property and finances; and health and welfare - covers decisions about medical treatment, care arrangements and where they live.
If no legal documents exist and your relative lacks capacity, you could arrange a capacity assessment with a doctor or social worker. Understanding these legal requirements early can help avoid future complications and ensure you’re providing care appropriately.
What to remember:
If you find yourself in this situation or are considering becoming a carer, here are some key things to think about:
- have an honest talk about the care needs and wishes of the person you’ll be caring for;
- ask other family members and friends to share responsibilities where possible;
- speak to their GP for advice and guidance;
- learn about available social and community care services in the local area;
- look into financial support like Carer’s Allowance and other benefits that may be available to you;
- organise regular respite time to avoid burnout - this is essential, not selfish;
- join carer organisations and support groups for ongoing help; and.
- take pride in making such a big difference to someone’s life.
Caring for a loved one can be incredibly rewarding. With proper planning and support systems, you can provide loving care in a healthy, balanced and successful way.
If you’re interested in learning more about looking after family members, what to do when expecting a baby, or family problems like illness, divorce or bereavement, head to our Family and Care section.
Risk warning
As always with investments, your capital is at risk. The value of your investment can go down as well as up, and you may get back less than you invest. This information should not be regarded as financial advice.
Last edited: 30-06-2025
