The kind of help and support you can get as a carer includes:

• respite care to give you a break;
• emotional support from other carers;
• help with caring; and
• help with household tasks and activities for the person you care for.

Before you have an assessment, you might want to think about the following:

• Are you getting enough sleep?
• Are you able to get out and do things by yourself?
• Do you feel that your health is being affected by caring?
• Are you able to cope with other family commitments?
• Are you finding juggling work and caring difficult?

Talk to the person doing your assessment about these and any other issues that you think may affect your ability to continue caring.

If you live in England, Wales or Northern Ireland you can have services provided directly to you; this means you can be charged for them (see the page on Who pays for care at home?). You might be able to get Direct Payments if you wish to buy your own services instead of having them arranged for you (see the page on Direct Payments).

If you live in Scotland, you can't receive services in your own right. But the social work department should use your carer's assessment, taking into account your needs, in deciding what services to provide to the person you care for.

An organisation called Carers UK can give you further support and advice. Call their carers advice line for free on 0808 808 7777.

Visit our carers section to find out more about getting a carers assessment.