1.3. What Carers do? (Preview)

Carers come from very diverse backgrounds and have very different caring circumstances. The nature and intensity of their caring role can vary greatly depending upon the condition of the cared for.

Some carers might provide a couple of hours of care a week to a friend with mental health problems, whilst others provide assistance around the clock to a family member with a physical disability or dementia.
Some carers don’t live with the person they cared for and this often can increase the time commitment with additional travel.
Some carers provide assistance with personal care to a disabled child, others provide emotional support to an elderly friend.
Some carers play an important role in accessing medical treatment including taking the cared for to appointments and administering their medications. Mostly a caring role involves coordination of services, liaising with professionals and filling application forms for benefits or other entitlements.
For some carers their role changes over time. Sometimes the cared for no longer needs care, but sometimes only a couple of hours of care can gradually increase to providing up to 40 hours or more of care.

Caring tasks can include the following duties:
– Practical household tasks such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, gardening, paying bills and financial management.
– Personal care such as bathing, dressing, lifting, administering medication and collecting prescriptions.
– Emotional support such as listening, offering advice and friendship.
– Companionship such as supporting someone to go out into the community for shopping and to attend appointments.