Unpaid Carer?

[Yellow85]

I’ve never considered myself an unpaid carer before, but listening to today’s daily briefing I’m wondering if I should. Both parents have underlying health conditions, DF has heart condition although mainly self sufficient, unless he’s had a recent episode - he isn’t allowed to drive. DM, well, where to start, suffers from MH problems, limited mobility due to bone disease as well as an alcohol dependency.

Anyways since covid I’ve been doing all the shopping, driving them to appointments/scans, cooking meals and general doing their running around. I’m not providing any personal care. When DF is feeling well I drop groceries at the door, when he’s not I mask up and put them away and clean around the kitchen for them and the likes.

Would you consider that caring or just helping? I would absolutely not want to jump the queue but am I better registering for vaccine to protect them?

My mum did the same for my grandad. No personal care but did the same sort of things as you. She got the vaccine on account of being an unpaid carer but that was also registered with her GP. Does your GP know you provide care?

@XenoBitch No they don’t but in Scotland they’ve just announced a website for unregistered unpaid carers to book and it made me think...

Register and see, I filled in a form and now waiting to hear back.

What would happen if you were ill? If they wouldn't cope without you even for a week, then you are their carer.

@PastMyBestBeforeDate great point. I’d likely ask MIL or husband to support. They could cope without me specifically, but not without anyone to help.

My local carers society put out a Facebook message yesterday to say that they have suddenly been inundated with people wanting to register with them as carers.
Not sure how many of these people are actual carers or just trying it on to be put In a higher group.
I can see things becoming harder for carers to register if it continues like this.