AKA Carers and Young Carers
Family Life Coaching
13.6 million unpaid carers
There are an estimated 13.6 million unpaid carers in the UK today. Why not buy someone you know a AKA Life Coaching Voucher today, to show them you care.
Who is considered a Carer?
A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support. Caring for a partner, relative or friend can be hugely rewarding, but it can be emotionally draining and isolating at times. If your caring responsibilities prevent you from carrying out a paid job, your financial situation may also be affected.
Help and support for carers
Recognising your role as a carer is an important step towards ensuring you get the right help and support.
All carers are entitled to a free carer’s assessment of their needs. This can be an important first step towards finding support.
Carers are protected by certain rights in the workplace. See our guide to carers’ rights at work for more information.
Being a carer can also bring particular financial pressures, so it's essential to find out if you are eligible for any extra financial support. For example, you may be able to claim benefits such as Carer’s Allowance or Carer’s Credit.
Each carer’s role is unique and will depend on your circumstances.
If you’re caring for someone that you share a home with, you might provide help and support 24/7. If you live separately, you might spend a few hours a day with them, or just pop in once a week. In some cases, you might feel responsible for your friend or relative but live miles away. You might be the sole carer, or share responsibilities with several family members who help to look after the same person.
There is no set job description and your role will be shaped by the needs of the person you are caring for, the help that you provide and your personal circumstances.
A person might need care due to:
serious illness or injury (either on a short- or long-term basis)
physical or mental disability
reduced mobility (see our guide to mobility aids)
mental health issues
dementia.
A carer can be anyone of any age. You might be a young adult supporting a parent, or you might be retired yourself, providing care for a partner, sibling or friend.
You might have to take on responsibilities overnight if a family member is taken ill. In other cases, your role may evolve slowly over time as the health of a friend or family member gradually declines.
Carers are not just Adults
Young Carer and Self Made Millionaire at 17 years Old
If you are struggling with your caring responsibilities and would like a safe space to evaluate, organises your thoughts and work on your life balance. Contact us on the form below.
It is estimated that there are around 700,000 young carers in the UK and many young carers have to provide emotional support to family members in need. Young carers are children and young persons under the age of 18 who provide, or intend to provide, care, assistance or support to another family member who is disabled, physically, or mentally ill. They carry out, often on a regular basis, significant or substantial caring tasks, taking on a level of responsibility that is inappropriate to their age or development.
Due to these responsibilities, young carers miss an average of 48 days of school throughout the year, and 68% have been bullied at some point because of their role in caring for someone.
It is ok to ask for help:
Why do so many of us have a hard time asking for help? Whether it’s a difficult work project or the stress of parenting, caring for a relative everyone gets overwhelmed at times, yet we still are often resistant to reaching out to others in the hopes that they’ll help lighten our load. Maybe we’re afraid of looking imperfect and that others will think less of us. Or perhaps we’re afraid of rejection; we don’t want to be turned down. Other times, we feel awkward about inconveniencing someone else with our problems. And so often it happens that we’d rather give help than receive it.
We try to keep up the façade that we have it all together all the time, but that’s such a huge lie! Part of being a human being is having limitations. No one can do it all. No one. We all need someone. We would literally die without each other. Everybody has a heavy burden to bear at some point or another, and one of the core purposes of relationships is to help support one another.
Another reason we shouldn’t be afraid to reach out for help is because complete independence is impossible. Culturally, we seem to tout independence as this great thing to aspire to, but it’s not realistic or even desirable to try to achieve. As human beings, we are wired to connect with other people. What things in your life do you need help / support with? Who could you reach out to for it?
Tool’s and Resources
Source : https://www.carersuk.org/help-and-advice/get-resources/being-heard-a-self-advocacy-toolkit-for-carers-uk
Support for you
Top Habits for Carers
Have a self care practice .
prioritise and put yourself first sometimes.
Be kind to your self “ its ok to have bad days.”
Have built in coping strategies to help you keep calm.
Don’t forget who you are and what makes you happy.
Ask for help.
Develop a schedule of other family members that may also be able to support ie telephone calls , letter writing , booking appointments even if they cannot do the day to day stuff.
Ask for respite when needed.
Have a discussion with work “ you may needed addition time off for hospital medical appointments and or meetings .
Know your rights at work and carers entitlements.
Look after your own mental health ie Counsellor, Therapist, Friend, Family or Life coaching
Have a good record keeping system.
Make sure you have a full assessment
Ask what might seem like silly questions
Make and know legal arrangements ’’ if necessary ie Dementia
Make time for other relationships ie Children, partner, friends etc
Take care of Financials
