Who are carers?
- A carer may be a spouse, parent, child, friend or neighbour providing unpaid support.
- Carers support people with disability, mental illness, chronic illness, substance issues, or frailty.
Types of carers
- Continuous care (up to 24 hours support a day)
- Intermittent task-based support
Challenges carers face
- Hidden roles, identity issues, burnout
- Cultural or linguistic barriers
- Legal, emotional and informational gaps
Why healthcare professionals should care
- Carers often notice early signs of deterioration, provide essential context, and are key to continuity of care
Children and young people are under-identified
- Young carers take on roles due to a family member’s need
- Their own mental health needs are often ignored
- Some are as young as primary school age
- Many struggle to express their challenges
