Research: Older Family Carers Consultation

Older family carers are people approaching 60 and over who care for, or have cared for or supported a close family member or relative with learning difficulties.

The Older Family Carers Consultation was a 9 month research project carried out by Age Concern Norfolk to find out the needs and experiences of older carers.

Conclusions 

This project found out the needs, hopes and experiences of 174 older family carers who supported a relative with learning difficulties in Norfolk.

Many older family carers said that their needs were changing as they got older and they now needed perhaps more or different kinds of support.

Many older family carers told us about feeling lonely and isolated.  Older family carers identified many ways in which they could be supported better to prevent these feelings. 

This often marginalised and taken for granted group of individuals should not be forgotten.

• Main Recommendations 

  • To set up a database of personal information on older families which can be accessed in emergencies and can be shared between agencies.
  • To set up an Older Families Support Service that will provide information, advice, advocacy and emotional support to older family carers in their caring role and help families to plan for the future.
  • For organisations and agencies to ensure that the information they provide is accessible to older family carers and meets their needs.
  • To have a respite system which is flexible and readily available when older family carers need it with options and choices that meet their needs

     

     To read the full report please click on the link below:

    Older Family Carers Consultation