The evidence in brief
- Carers in England and Wales have a legal right to a carer's assessment from the local authority
- Carer strain is common and often goes unrecognised until something gives
- Much of the knowledge that keeps someone well lives only in a carer's head
- Writing it down lets others step in without starting from nothing
Why carers wear down
Carers UK's annual State of Caring surveys consistently report that many unpaid carers feel tired, isolated, and worried about their own health, and that many have not had a break in a long time. NICE guidance on supporting adult carers (NG150) recognises the same pattern and asks services to identify carers early and offer support.
Strain rarely comes from one task. It comes from being the only person who knows how things work — which tablets go when, what calms a bad evening, who to ring.
Signs worth noticing
None of these mean you are failing. They mean the load is too heavy for one person.
- Sleep that never quite recovers
- Dropping the things that used to keep you well
- Feeling you cannot be ill, or go away, because no one else would know what to do
- Irritability or numbness you do not recognise in yourself
What you are entitled to
Under the Care Act 2014 in England, and the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014, any carer who appears to have needs for support can ask the local authority for a carer's assessment, whatever the level of care they give and whatever their finances. It looks at your wellbeing, not only the person you care for.
Sharing what only you know
Respite, a sitter or a hospital team can only help well if they know the person. A Life Profile written with an Occupational Therapist records routines, comforts and preferences in one place, so others can carry part of the load. It complements, and does not replace, care plans, legal documents or a carer's assessment.
Sources
Do it before you need it.
The Future You® Life Profile is an Occupational Therapist-led picture of the person behind the paperwork — who you are, what matters to you and what you would want others to know. It complements, and does not replace, an LPA, advance decision, care plan or medical record.
General information for England and Wales. Not legal advice, and not a substitute for an individual clinical assessment.