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[...]parties, including health-care providers, government agencies, care facilities, and financial institutions, may expect or require that your legal authority to make decisions or provide consent be based on more than being a concerned and loving caregiver. The Social Security Administration can give limited decision authority over Social Security benefits through the title of representative payee. [...]there are frequently many misunderstandings about the basics of this arrangement: * You can't get a power of attorney over someone; it has to be given to you.

Professional services firm Deloitte made headlines last year when it unveiled its plan, offering employees up to 16 weeks of paid time off per year to look after a parent or family member as well as for the birth or adoption of a child. AARP also introduced a program under which its full- and part-time employees may request up to two regularly scheduled workweeks of paid time off per calendar year to assist a family member who is ill or needs physical or medical assistance. LĪ] Scott Frisch is executive vice president and chief operating officer at AARP in Washington, D.C.

Employers are increasingly finding ways to support workers who are juggling jobs, children, and looking after elderly parents. A new era of flexible working is making life easier for carers. For employers that want to do more, concierge-style support programmes are an avenue to explore.

The stress of caring for elderly relatives is being recognised, but more can be done

Legal & General is championing for change after learning the UK's informal carers are contributing the equivalent of billions of pounds to meet the care needs of relatives and friends.

Care provision in many nations increasingly relies on the work of informal, or non-professional, carers. Often these carers experience substantial disruptions and reductions to their own sociality, weakened social support networks and, ultimately, a heightened risk of social isolation. We describe a qualitative study, comprised of interviews, design workshops and probes, that investigated the social and community support practices of carers. Our findings highlight issues related to becoming and recognising being a carer, and feelings of being ignored by, and isolated from, others.

In 1967, the concept of family caregiving was not talked about. It was a responsibility assumed by a spouse, parent, or child, the overwhelming majority of whom were female. There was no body of knowledge, nor was it covered in the media. This article summarizes the evolution of caregiving in the United States over the past fifty years, including: increased awareness of caregiving; federal development of support services for caregivers; legislation; impacts on caregiver health; workplace support for caregivers; technological support; and research. 

A total of 7,397 carers and former carers responded to Carers UK’s annual State of Caring survey between March and May 2018. 

Only responses from the 6,828 people currently providing care who completed the survey are included in this report as it is designed to provide a snapshot of caring in 2018. However, Carers UK will be using the responses of former carers in other pieces of work throughout the year. 

Compared to the carer population as a whole, respondents to this survey were more likely to be female and caring for a high number of hours every week. 

The Carers Week 2016 research report presents key findings on Carer Friendly Communities across five themes: community, health, employment, education and older carers. 

The research for this report was carried out as part of Carers UK annual State of Caring Survey. A total of 6,149 carers and former carers responded to Carers UK’s annual State of Caring Survey between March and April 2016.

Introduction: Informal caregivers play a pivotal role in supporting patients approaching the end of life. The Carer Support Needs Assessment Tool (CSNAT) is designed to facilitate person-centred assessment and support through a process that is practitioner-facilitated, but carer-led. This study explored practitioners’ experiences of implementing the CSNAT in palliative homecare. Methods: We conducted qualitative interviews/focus groups with 20 practitioners in one UK hospice homecare service (18 nurses, two healthcare assistants) before and after the implementation of the CSNAT.