Policy initiatives for family carers

This chapter discusses policy initiatives for family carers of people with terminal illness. It focuses on the situation in England but provides some comparison of innovative approaches in other countries including Canada, Australia, and European member states. It suggests that policies for family carers must take into account the heterogeneity of terminal conditions and uncertainties in the timing and progression of the last stages in life, and that policy provisions should be extended into such areas as bereavement benefits.