Support for Carers
Who is classed as a Carer?
A carer is anyone who looks after someone else without being paid for it and where the person being looked after wouldn’t be able to cope on their own without this help.
Carers may be a partner, family member, parent, child or friend. Carers can be any age, and the help they provide is different from person to person. For example, help with personal care, support to eat and drink, delivering groceries or transport to appointments. Many people may not automatically recognise themselves as a ‘carer’. However, it is important to recognise the role carers play and, if you are a carer, it’s important to know what help and support is available to you.
How can I help someone I care for?
Being a carer for someone with a lung condition can mean different things for different people, and may depend on what condition they have, their age and lots of other factors.
Common ways carers can help someone with a lung condition:
- Learn about their condition
- Help with taking medication and doing physiotherapy exercises
- Help when the person you care for is breathless
- Help in an emergency
- Emotional support such as providing reassurance when worried or afraid, showing affection, sympathy, empathy and encouragement when the person is feeling low, fed up or tired, cheering the person up when feeling low
- Personal care, such as washing and dressing
- Taking the person you care for to medical appointments
- Help around the home, such as cleaning, shopping, preparing meals
There is more about the help carers can provide on the ASTHMA + LUNG UK website. For additional support for carers, visit the local service finder web page.
Learn more about lung conditions?
If you are a carer and want to know more about the lung condition that the person you care for has, we have lots of information on this site about the most common lung conditions experienced by people in the UK. Click on the links below to find out more.
- Asthma
- Bronchiectasis
- COPD
- COVID-19
- Cystic fibrosis
- Lung cancer
- Pneumonia
- Pulmonary fibrosis
- Tuberculosis
What support is available for carers of people with a lung condition?
Caring for someone with a lung condition can be hard. It is important that you look after your own mental and physical health, not only for yourself but so that you are in the best place to help the person you care for. For additional support for carers, visit the local service finder web page.
The valuable role played by carers is recognised by many organisations that offer advice and support to carers, including help with emotional, practical and financial needs.
As a carer for someone with a lung condition, you are also entitled to a carer’s assessment from your Local Authority. They will then be able to direct you towards local services or assist with a support plan based on your needs. To request an assessment you will need to contact Social Services . A carer’s assessment is free and can be requested by anyone over the age of 18.
Being a carer may mean that your income is affected, and you may be entitled to benefits specifically for carers or people living on a low income.
Where can I find out more?
To find out more about the help available to carers in your area you can visit the services pages on this site or contact your Local Authority. The charities that help carers and people with lung conditions also have lots more great advice on their websites about keeping yourself well, how you can help the person you care for and information about how to get support.
ASTHMA+LUNG UK- Caring for someone with a lung condition