Carers

The Department of Social Care is working in partnership with other government departments and Third Sector organisations to develop an appropriate network of support for carers on the Isle of Man.

Who is a carer?

A carer is defined as someone who supports a relative, friend or a neighbour who for any reason needs help with daily living and receives no payment for doing so.

What do carers do?

Carers provide physical and emotional support to vulnerable people. They help the person they support to deal with the issues of daily living, particularly those more specifically associated with a short or long term illness or disability, mental health issues or problems resulting from alcohol or substance misuse.

The type and amount of support provided by a carer may vary considerably depending upon individual needs and therefore it is not possible to fully define the role. Each situation is different and the role will not be the same for everyone. In addition, caring responsibilities usually vary over time and may be difficult to predict from day to day.

Anybody can become a carer at any time, as the result of a sudden event, such as an accident, or through a gradual process when someone’s physical or mental health slowly deteriorates.

Help for carers

If you are a carer, you may be entitled to certain help. If, as a carer, you satisfy certain conditions, you may be entitled to carer’s allowance. The Department of Social Care have a connection with Crossroads Care Isle of Man, through this link we support their Social Club and Care at Home Scheme. Please also see our downloadable documents section to the right for more information.