What counts as a carer?

[HedgeSparrows]

Since COVID started over a year ago I have been doing the weekly shopping for an elderly neighbour. I also do odd jobs like gardening, sorting prescriptions, sorting out problems such as services, and popping round to chat through the window. He has no family. We befriended him 14 years ago and he has been like a surrogate grandfather to the children. We would pop in a lot pre-COVID but it's being once or twice a week since the restrictions and I haven't been inside his house. (Obviously this is all done on a voluntary basis - I thoroughly enjoy his company, as do the children, and he seems to enjoy ours!).

Does this count as being a carer?

I will be honest I am desperate for the vaccine. I am 49 and a TA. I feel at risk at work and was pinning all my hopes on getting the vaccine soon but it is now looking as thought it will be well in to May due to the vaccine delays.

bobbiester - thank you for that, I might try contacting GP.

I checked out the guidance for Wales, which said carers of children with profound neuro disabilities would be eligible. Yes, DS is affected significantly by his ASD and yes he requires extra care in some areas, but he is not 'profoundly disabled' by any means. The wording could be better!

Whilst I think it is lovely what you are doing, I don't think it fits within the definition of carer for the purposes of vaccination appointments. No harm in politely asking perhaps via your GP.

@XenoBitch

As far as I know, for you to be registered as a carer with your GP (and be eligible for the vaccine), you would need a carer's assessment.

I’m almost certain that isn’t true. It definitely isn’t true if you’re a parent carer.

I've had my vaccine thankfully but Ive been thinking about the fact I'm a lone parent, and how I've been worried this whole time what would happen if I became ill. I would have thought lone parents should be listed as carers, especially if they have primary aged children.

Part of the rationale for giving the vaccine to carers is because the person being cared for would struggle if their carer was ill.

Absolutely.

@tootyfruitypickle

I've had my vaccine thankfully but Ive been thinking about the fact I'm a lone parent, and how I've been worried this whole time what would happen if I became ill. I would have thought lone parents should be listed as carers, especially if they have primary aged children.

@tootyfruitypickle yes. I am a SP to two under 5s and can categorically say if I was taken ill they would be put in danger - even how they’d navigate the stair gate sends chills down my spine. So frankly people suggesting they are an unpaid carer to get an earlier vaccine does really irritate me when all they are doing is “doing the neighbourly thing” rather than actually acting as carer

@Wingingit15 mine is 12 so no real worries but the whole year I wondered what on earth I could do if I ended up in hospital as she wouldn't be ok at night. And I couldn't imagine how it would have been to be ill had she been very young. I started having an annual flu jab when I became a LP for this reason.

Going by work this week there are a lot of young lads in their twenties who care for their Nans. How kind of them.

We particularly enjoyed the one who is a carer for his Nan who works in Tesco's.