Carers
If you look after someone who cannot manage without your help because of age, illness or disability ...
If you give, or plan to give, someone regular and substantial amounts of unpaid care ...
then you are a carer - and you are not alone.
Carers are relatives, friends or neighbours who regularly look after someone in need of help because of illness, frailty or disability. The help they provide is unpaid. Carers may be adults, children or young people either living with the person they care for or somewhere else.
Over 10,000 people in Walsall said in the 2001 Census that they provided care to someone over 20 hours a week.
If you are a carer then you are entitled to a Carers Assessment and can ask social services for help to meet your own needs. In order for you to receive any service, the person you care for will have to have enough needs to be entitled to help from social services, but they do not actually have to be getting that help.
Sometimes people talk about 'informal carers' to distinguish you from people who are paid to provide care to people. People also talk about 'family carers' and while it is important that we make sure spouses and children are seen as carers, you do not have to be a family member - you may be a friend or neighbour.
The care you give may include physical and personal care, emotional support, advocacy or maintaining safety.
For further information please contact us or complete the online contact form for general enquiries.
Contact us
For further information and advice please contact your nearest social care office.
This page was last updated on 12 March 2010