Carers may often feel they have no option but to give up work and take on full-time caring responsibilities.
This may happen when you have been faced with a sudden crisis, which has left you feeling exhausted, physically and mentally. Giving up work may be the obvious thing to do because it means you can focus fully on looking after the other person.
You don’t have to give up your job
It might not always feel like it, but try to remember that you do have a choice about whether you carry on working or not.
The Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014 puts a duty on local councils to consider the support needs of an adult carer.
This includes finding out if you are able and willing to continue in your caring role, and importantly, whether you wish to work or continue to work.
Ask for a carer’s needs assessment and make it clear that you intend to combine your caring responsibilities with your job.
Taking a career break
Instead of giving up work altogether, it might be worth asking your employer if they would consider you having a career break.
This would allow you to focus on your caring responsibilities – perhaps putting longer-term arrangements into place or caring for someone nearing the end of their life – while knowing you had a job to return to.
If you are taking an unpaid career break, you may be entitled to claim Carer’s Allowance while you are not working.
If you do decide to give up your job
Even if you do decide to give up work, it is not reasonable to expect you to care for someone without support.
If the other person is not already receiving support from social services, contact your local council and arrange to have their need for care and support assessed. If they are receiving support, but have become more dependent on you over time, ask for their needs to be re-assessed.
Make sure you regularly take time off your caring role and look after your own health and well-being.
Don’t forget, if you are not working, you can claim Carer’s Allowance and possibly other financial help.