Who is a carer?
A carer looks after a relative, friend or child who needs support to live at home due to a physical or mental disability or illness or due to being elderly or frail. A carer is not a paid care worker.
If you care for someone, you may be providing practical help such as shopping, cooking or collecting prescriptions or heavy physical tasks such as bathing, dressing and lifting the person in need of care. You may be involved in giving emotional support and in keeping a close eye on the person you care for.
Caring for someone can be demanding and there is a range of help available to support you in your caring role.
Download the information guide 'Are you carer?'. Alternatively, you can call 020 8314 3863 to order a copy of this guide.
There are over 19,000 carers in Lewisham and 1,200 are young people under the age of 18. Caring impacts heavily on carers’ lives – many give up work in order to care. Young carers may fall behind at school and lose touch with their friends.
Your Council offers a range of support schemes for carers, and we can link you to many helpful organisations. Here you can find out about respite care, financial benefits, and help with meals and equipment.
There's also information on the Lewisham Young Carers Project which provides advocacy, support, information, clubs and trips and the carers survey, which will be uses to influence the Council strategy.
Lewisham carer's emergency alert card
If you are a carer, and are involved in an accident or emergency, the Carer's emergency alert card will make sure that the person you care for is looked after properly.
Carer's strategy announced
A new carer's strategy (external website) has been announced which sets out the Government's short-term agenda and long-term vision for the future care and support of carers.