The role of the primary care team in support of informal carers

Caring for an elderly, frail or disabled person has effects on physical and psychological health as well as financial and social consequences. There are 6 million informal carers in the UK and the primary care team together with other community services is expected to provide the support they need. However, most primary care team members feel ill equipped to do so and there is very little evidence about which interventions are effective. This article reviews the reasons for this problem and suggests a strategy primary care team members could adopt until new evidence about effective strategies is available.