Carers Week

A carer is a person of any age who provides unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older. (Carers UK, 2025)

I have cerebral palsy and epilepsy; my mum has a dementia diagnosis. Families like ours, rarely consider that the support they give to a loved one every day, classes them as carers.

Husbands, wives and partners take on these hidden roles when the new relationship isn’t defined by disability, it’s a partnership where two people want to get to know each other. Or it transpires when an illness occurs in later life.

When we think about what care means, it can be as simple as cooking a meal, changing a bed or tying up shoelaces, but it can also be a lonely and exhaustive experience for those providing 24-hour care with little respite.

It can take time for the partner to identify their role as a carer. Investigating services and support won’t be their priority. Over time they may reach a place of acceptance and, along with family, there are organisations such as Carers UK and the local authority who can support them.

Carers are often the unsung heroes of families, providing essential support and ensuring loved ones can live fulfilled lives. It’s important to recognise their work and their enormous contribution to society.

Let’s celebrate them this Carers week.