"You don't stop the worrying": the difficulties of caring in later life

There are 1.3 million carers aged over 65 in England and Wales providing care and support to friends and family.

This research report, written in partnership with Carers UK, looks to better understand the challenges that older people face.

Findings

We identify the following as the principal difficulties facing older carers:

- concerns about poor care and support from a range of providers including home care services and care homes

- that caring doesn’t end when a loved one moves into a care home

- a ‘health crash’ for some carers following the death of the person they care for

- the impact of bereavement, as carers not only lose a loved one, but a whole way of life.

Recommendations

- Older people need to know their rights as a carer, including their new rights under the Care Act.

- Organisations should look at developing a "carer's friend" type service, to give older carers access to one-to-one practical and emotional support.

- Older carers should be treated as a priority group for proactive information and advice for care and support.

- When assessing older carers whose loved one has moved into a care home help should be offered for how to sustain this relationship and how to make the most out of this relationship in delivering high quality care.