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Carer's Assessment

If you provide care for a relative or friend, you may be entitled to an assessment of your needs. You can request a Carer's Assessment from your local Social Services department.

Before the assessment

Make a list of everything you do to help look after the person you care for. Then think about what might help you provide care. This might include:

equipment and changes in the home
someone to help with personal care, such as bathing
having a meal delivered to the person you care for
a regular break for yourself
information on residential care
counselling or having someone to talk to
being put in touch with other carers.

During the assessment

Tell the person carrying out the assessment what would help you. Make sure you are honest about the amount of caring you would like to do. You can ask to talk to the person carrying out the assessment in private.

The assessment will look at things like:

the help and support needed by the person you are caring for
the kinds of things you do to provide care for them
how much time you spend caring
whether you live with the person you care for
how much support you already receive
your own health and wellbeing.

The assessment must also take your work, education and leisure activities into consideration.

Normally one person will carry out the assessment. If a lot of care is needed, a meeting may be arranged with your GP or nurse.

Further information

For more details about the Carer's Assessment call CarersLine on 0808 808 7777 (open on Wednesday and Thursday at 10am to 12noon and 2pm to 4pm). You can also find information on Carers UK's website.

You can download information about "Caring at home" from Help the Hospices' Carers Pack.