How to know if you’re a carer

How to know if you’re a carer

A carer is anyone who is unpaid for their caring and looks after a friend, family member or neighbour due to old age, physical or mental illness, disability or an addiction.

Carers (sometimes called ‘unpaid carers’) come from all walks of life, all cultures and can be any age, including children.

Many people do not recognise themselves as carers. There is no minimum amount of time you need to support someone for you to be considered a carer. It could be as little as 1 to 2 hours every few weeks.

How many carers there are in Scotland

There are estimated to be around 700,000 to 800,000 unpaid carers in Scotland. Many of these carers have never been in touch with support services.

What carers do

There are many ways you might care for someone else, such as:

• doing practical tasks like cooking, housework and shopping
• giving physical support like lifting, helping someone on stairs or with physiotherapy
• providing personal care like washing, dressing and helping with toileting needs
• managing the household budget and collecting benefits and prescriptions
• giving medication
• providing emotional support

The time a caring role takes up can vary from carer to carer and may involve:

• visiting a relative who lives far away once a month
• arranging hospital appointments for someone or accompanying them
• dropping in daily to a nearby disabled friend to give them a meal and company
• moving in with a relative to help them get better after an operation
• being there to provide 24-hour constant care for a partner

Why you need support as a carer

You might:

• have cared for someone for a long time
• be caring for someone for a short time after they’ve left hospital
• have just recently become a carer

No matter how long you have been caring for someone, you may need some support.

Your local carer centre can help you with information and advice about your rights and what support is available.

Many carer centres have peer support groups where you can:

• connect with other carers
• take part in social activities
• training to further develop your skills

Find your local carer centre

Young carers

You may also know someone who is a young carer. A young carer is someone under the age of 18, or 18 and still at school, who provides care.

Read about young carers and young adult carers.

Find your local young carer service.

Young carers aged 11 to 18 can also access Young Scot’s young carer package. 

Find out more about further education and young carers.