Recognising when you are a parent carer
Recognising yourself as a parent carer can be a powerful and emotional step. Many parent carers do not initially identify with the term, seeing themselves simply as parents first and foremost.
You are a parent carer if you are aged 18 or over, have parental responsibility, and provide a substantial amount of extra care and support for a child under 25 who has a disability, long-term illness, mental health needs, or additional needs that are more than what other parents of a similar-aged child would typically provide.
Acknowledging that you are a carer can help you to: access support services, seek financial benefits or allowances, speak to employers about flexibility, reduce feelings of isolation, understand your rights and to accept that any emotional and physical exhaustion is valid.
These are some of the signs that you might be a carer even if you don’t call yourself one;
- You provide extra help with daily living tasks when children of the same age can manage them independently
- You attend frequent appointments with health, social care and education
- You provide support with communication, mobility and/or personal care
- You provide constant supervision for safety and wellbeing
- You adjust your work or personal life around their needs
- You put your own health or needs second
There is an emotional side to caring and many carers tell us that they sometimes feel guilty, inadequate, sad, and overwhelmed. All these emotions are normal. You may also feel relief to realise that it is normal to feel this way.
Recognising you are a carer and asking for help can support you to understand your role more clearly, explore what caring looks like for you, identify support services for you, and talk through any emotions or uncertainties you’re experiencing.
