Support for carers
A carer is anyone who cares for a family member, friend, or an adult over the age of 18 years who cannot live independently without support due to
- illness
- frailty
- disability
- mental health condition
- addiction
- other social limitations, such as keeping a job
You are still a carer if you care for an adult with one or more of these conditions, whether you are being paid for the support you give or not.
- Find out if you are eligible for a carer's allowance
The roles and responsibilities each carer provide vary based on the individual’s need for care. These can include everyday tasks, like personal care, such as getting out of bed and bathing, to emotional support and coping with the symptoms of a mental illness.
Many people who care for someone else do not see themselves as carers and may not get the support they need. If you are living on the Isle of Wight, Carers IW can give you help and advice on being a carer. They can provide you with one-on-one and group support and a place for respite, among other services. You can access a carers assessment with us or through Carers IW.
Carers assessment
You can request a carers assessment through Carers IW.
The assessment will help identify what support you may need to help you provide care for someone else and the impact on your own health and wellbeing.
If you want to have an assessment for yourself complete the form
Carers passport
You can request a Carers Passport through Carers IW. The Carers Passport identifies a carer and gives them access to support, services, and other benefits. It gives carers the recognition they deserve for the role they are undertaking and will help to highlight to health and care professionals that carers have a wealth of knowledge about the person they care for.
The Carers Passport is free and can be used across all services including but not limited to St Mary’s Hospital, Adult Social Care, Police, and shops. Using the carers passport at St Mary’s Hospital allows the carer to visit out of normal visiting hours, help with meals and drinking and be actively involved in meetings about the patient, with their consent, and be involved in any discussions surrounding discharge. The Carers Passport also offers free parking at St Mary’s Hospital along with a discount on meals in the hospital restaurant.
The Care Services Directory provides a comprehensive list of the types of care services available, advice about how to pay for your care and support for carers to help you make an informed decision about the type of care that is right for you and the person that you care for.