What is respite care?
Find out more about how you can take a break from caring if you need one.
Whether you've just started looking after a loved one or have been supporting someone for a while, this checklist will help you get the support and information you need.
A carer's assessment will help you find out what you need and what could help you with your caring role. Some of the outcomes could be:
Find out more about the carer's assessment
Let your doctor know that you're caring for someone, as you may be entitled to additional health services such as a free flu jab. Caring is hard, so it's important they know and can look out for your health, as well as offer you advice and support.
When you're caring for someone else, your own interests and hobbies can often take a back seat. Although it can be hard to carve out time, it's so important that you still do the things that make you feel like you.
Are there any friends or family who could support you for an hour, or any local day centres that could give you a bit of a break every week? That could be through a charity that supports people with specific conditions, or an Age UK day centre.
You wouldn't work an office job for a full year without any holiday, and caring should be no different.
Even if you can't afford it on your own, there may be support available to help you with respite care.
Carer's Allowance is a payment of £69.70 a week to spend as you wish. If you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and earn less than £132 a week, you may be eligible.
Find out more about Carer's Allowance
You can find out whether you're claiming everything you're entitled to by using our online benefits calculator.
Do you know what benefits you're entitled to? Our online benefits calculator can help you quickly and easily find out what you could be claiming.
Balancing work and caring can be really tiring and stressful. This is why it's important to tell your employer about your caring responsibilities, because they may start to affect your productivity at work. If your employer knows, they may be able to help you deal with the stress, and they'll understand if you need to take days off at the last minute too.
If at some point balancing work and caring becomes too much, you could ask your employer about opportunities for flexible working. This could mean working from home a few days a week or starting and finishing work at an earlier time.
You have certain rights as a carer, like the right to time off in an emergency, and the right to request flexible working.
If you have the permission of the person you care for, get in touch with your local council to ask for a care needs assessment.
A social care professional will assess how they manage everyday tasks and what they want to achieve. The professional will look at the person's needs and consider what care and support could be useful.
Find out how to arrange a care needs assessment
The person you care for may be entitled to different benefits than you. They can use our benefits calculator to find out what to apply for.
If they're entitled to benefits they're not currently claiming, you may be able to help with the application forms. But if you're struggling, your local Age UK may be able to help the person you care for to apply.
There are changes you can make in your home to make life with a long-term condition or disability a lot easier, from simple, practical tips, to useful technology and larger adaptations. These adaptations could allow the person you care for to stay happy, healthy and comfortable at home.
Find out more about home adaptations that can simplify your daily life
Although it can be difficult, it's useful for the person you care for to think about the future and getting their affairs in order. It may be useful to think about their future care needs, their preferences, powers of attorney and whether their will is up to date.
Find out more about legal issues like making a will and powers of attorney
Print out this checklist to stick on your fridge or give to someone you know who is caring for someone. They may learn something useful that makes their life easier.
We offer support through our free advice line on 0800 678 1602. Lines are open 8am-7pm, 365 days a year. We also have specialist advisers at over 120 local Age UKs.
Find out more about how you can take a break from caring if you need one.
If you spend time looking after someone, you could be entitled to financial support.
Find out more about what to do when your caring role changes or ends.
Find out about what the carer's assessment involves.
How to look after yourself if you're a carer.
How to balance your working and caring responsibilities if you're a carer.