A carer is someone who looks after a relative or friend who needs support, because of age, physical or learning disability or illness including mental illness, carers do not get paid for caring, although some may receive benefits. Some carers care for one person and some for many.

Categories of carers...

• Adult carer – An adult caring for another adult i.e. spouse, partner, friend or relative.

• Parent carer – An adult who cares for a child who is ill or has a disability.

• Young carers – a child or young person aged up to 18 who is carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person, their parent, grandparent or sibling, which would usually be taken on by an adult.