Taking care of someone

As more and more of us take on the role of carer it is likely that either we are, have been, or know a carer.

There are over 13,500 carers in the Vale of Glamorgan, most of them not accessing the support available. If you're not sure whether you are a carer, maybe because you see it as an extension of your role of mother, son, friend etc, the section "Caring for Someone" may help you.

Whether you've been caring for a while, or it's new to you, you need to think about:

• What help you'll need
• How you'll cope
• How you'll look after yourself
• What plans you'll need to make

There is a wide range of support available but knowing where to look and who to contact can be difficult. We aim to change this by:

• Providing you with up-to-date information
• Signposting you to appropriate voluntary groups and social services
• Providing relevant advice
• Assessing your needs

The Vale of Glamorgan Council has developed a carers' pack that gives information on all of the above.