Family carers

A family carer is someone of any age who, without payment, provides help and support to a partner, child, relative, friend or neighbour who could not manage without their help. This could be due to age, physical or mental illness, addiction or disability.

Often people don't see themselves as carers, but rather as a family member, friend or neighbour taking responsibility and doing 'what anyone in their position would do'. Taking on a caring role can be anything from providing emotional support, reassurance, helping with their shopping and cleaning on a regular basis, to providing 24 hour nursing care.

In Ipswich the local authority responsible for supporting and helping family carers is Suffolk County Council. More information about what they do and how they can help is available on the Suffolk Family Carers website.

You may also find the following websites useful: