Prioritising your own health and wellbeing - the Carer's Assessment

If you feel you might need some support as an unpaid carer and are over the age of 18, you are legally entitled to a free Carer’s Assessment. This is an opportunity for you to tell us about your caring responsibilities, the impact they are having, and any hopes and aspirations you may have for the future. 

We can discuss any support you are currently receiving and recommend other approaches or activities that could help make life easier, such as respite breaks and local support groups.

The assessment also allows space to think about whether you are willing or able to carry on caring. If you feel this is not possible anymore, we can look at what options might be available for you or the person you care for.

Remember, a Carer’s Assessment is not a test of your ability as an unpaid carer. It is there to help you manage and look after your own wellbeing.

How to have a Carer's Assessment

If you are a Gloucestershire resident and are finding your caring responsibilities hard to balance, you can contact the Gloucestershire Carers Hub for an initial conversation about the support that is available. This may then lead to a Carer's Assessment. 

Their experienced team will carry out the assessment with you, talk about your caring role and look at the support available to you. 

You can find out more about the assessment process on their website. You can also complete a self-referral form if you wish to.

Before the assessment, it's a good idea to think about exactly how your caring responsibilities are impacting your life. You might want to write a diary of the caring tasks you do. This can help you understand how much support you provide, what support you already have and what you support you need.