FOR the first time, adult carers' needs are an equal footing with the needs of those they look after, following new legislation which came into force yesterday.

The new Care Act 2014 represents the most significant reform of care and support in more than 60 years, and strengthens the rights and recognition of carers. Carers and the people they care for have new rights to an assessment of their needs, regardless of their income and finances or their level of need. Young carers and the parents of disabled children are also included.

Care and support is something that will affect nearly everyone at some point in their lives. They will either require care themselves, will have experience of being a carer, or will have a family member who is a carer. The new system is aimed at keeping up with the demands of a growing older population, which will leave more people in need of care in the future.

Three in five of us will become a carer in our lifetime. Carers come from all walks of life and cultures and can be of any age. Men are almost as likely as women to be carers, with men making up 42per cent of carers.

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We can find ourselves taking on a caring role at any time. It can be instant - such as the result of a road traffic accident or a stroke - or it can creep up gradually, such as when an elderly parent becomes increasingly frail.

There are more than three million carers in the UK who are juggling work and caring responsibilities.

The long-awaited legal reforms, which recognise the role carers play and their right to support, are welcomed by Bradford's Carers' Resource, a charity supporting unpaid carers.

Anne Smyth, Director of the Carers’ Resource, which has an office in Shipley and supports more than 12,000 carers across Yorkshire, said the Act, which "strengthens and embodies" the rights and recognition of unpaid carers, heralds a "new dawn for carers".

“The law changed overnight on April 1 - but the world won’t change overnight,” she said. “This is about changing culture. The Act, already being dubbed ‘The Carers’ Act’, will put carers on an equal footing.

“Carers will be entitled to have their own person-centred assessment of their needs irrespective of the needs of the person they care for and can receive a range of services in their own right.”

The new law places a duty on local authorities, and those they choose to work with, to consider ‘wellbeing’ principles, for example the impact a caring role can have on an individual’s health, day-to-day life, relationships and ability to work or pursue hobbies.

Services could now also be delivered to the adult being cared for to help meet the health and wellbeing needs of the carer – an important example of this being respite.

Anna Jackson, Head of Development at Carers’ Resource, said: “If a carer is struggling to balance their own needs, such as staying in work or enjoying family time, with their caring role they should come and talk to us about the new rights the Act brings in and how this could help them.

“A lot of carers we speak to and support say they are overwhelmed, feel isolated and are struggling to find any time for themselves – even to have their hair cut – this Act will help to address this and gives a greater importance to the basic needs and wishes of the carer.

“The Act defines a carer as ‘an adult who provides or intends to provide care for someone’ meaning carers who provide any level of care, and someone providing care short-term to an adult will also be covered.

“It also recognises ‘carers centres’, which is what Carers’ Resource is, as being key to providing preventative support, for example providing carers access to information and advice about looking after themselves; reducing isolation through befriending and community activities; and encouraging carers to discuss their plans and fears for the future."

Carers’ Resource helps unpaid carers in Bradford, Airedale, Wharfedale, Craven, and Harrogate and Ripon. Services include one-to-one support, employment and training advice, support groups, planning for emergencies and information on wider support, help and advice.

* For more information visit carersresource.org or call the Bradford office on (01274) 449660, Skipton on (01756) 700888, or Harrogate on (01423) 500555.