Defining and profiling family carers: reflections from Ireland

The word ‘carer’, meaning family carer, is now widely used, especially in Western cultures. However, it is open to interpretation, is employed differently depending on circumstance, sector and setting, is at times resisted as a label by carers themselves, and is evolving as a term and role. This contribution reviews the term ‘carer’ and how it is understood, with particular reference to Ireland. It begins with a brief overview of evidence about the profile of carers in Ireland, including who they support, and then discusses data from a survey of family carers conducted by Care Alliance Ireland – the survey specifically explored the term ‘carer’ and how it is deployed – and some of the implications of these findings for the provision of support to carers in Ireland.