Adult carer support

An unpaid carer is someone who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction, and would find it difficult to manage without their support.

Caring could include:

• providing personal care
• managing household tasks
• meal preparation
• managing medication
• physical care
• emotional support
• managing finances
• supporting people to organise and attend appointments

Adult carers

Adult carers are people who support a friend or family member over the age of 18 with care and support needs. Under the Care Act 2014 Westmorland and Furness Council has a duty to provide support to carer's. This includes:

• promoting carer's wellbeing
• preventing needs for care and support
• providing information and advice

Carer Assessment

Within the Carer Assessment we will look at:

• whether the carer is able, and is likely to continue to be able, to provide care for the adult needing care
• whether the carer is willing, and is likely to continue to be willing, to do so
• the impact of the carer’s needs on their wellbeing
• the outcomes that the carer wishes to achieve in day-to-day life
• what support we can provide to meet those outcomes

If as a carer you are eligible for support under the Care Act 2014, we will work with you to develop a plan to meet your eligible needs.

Support may include providing services to support to you as a carer, to the person you care for, or a combination. These could be information and advice, support groups, carer's Direct Payments, and care for the person you support.

Some of these services may have a charge, such as care for the person you support. In this instance they will be offered a financial assessment to establish their contribution. For more information see Financial Assessments.

How to get a Carer Assessment