Although being a young carer can be rewarding, we know that it can be challenging too. And it is not just hard when big things happen. Just getting through day-to-day life when you are caring for someone can also be tough.
Many young carers report that doing everyday tasks for someone else is one of the bits they find most difficult about looking after a family member. They also said it is one of the areas where they feel least supported. Many feel they are just expected to know what to do on a day-to-day basis as a young carer and as though it is just common sense. In fact, a lot of the tasks are actually quite specialist. But there is often little guidance given to help young carers manage these tasks.
We have therefore provided some advice about the day-to-day activities you might need support with around the house in our guide 'Helping someone with everyday tasks in the home', as well as when you want to go further afield in our guide 'Helping someone to get out and about'.
Alongside this, there are also lots of pieces of equipment, aids and adaptations available to make your daily life as a young carer easier, and help the person you are caring for to be more independent whilst also staying safe. Our guides 'Equipment and assistive aids to help the person you care for' and 'Home adaptations to help the person you care for' provide an overview of some of the most common. These could include everything from small things like easy-grip cutlery to big things like having a wet room installed.
You may also feel you would benefit from being taught a bit more about some of the aspects of your caring role you are particularly struggling with. You could want to take a cooking class to learn how to make quick, tasty, nutritious meals for the person you care for, for example. To find out more about this, take a look at our guide 'Training to help you in your caring role'.
Online Help and Advice
Visit our online support section where we have provided advice and guidance on a range of relevant topics to help you in your caring role.