Health and social care professionals play an important role in helping older carers feel seen, heard, and supported. Explore open access resources until 16 June to support Carers Week.
In the UK, older carers provide the highest number of hours of care a week. However, many say that they find it difficult to balance these responsibilities while maintaining their own health and wellbeing.
Explore an updated resource that aims to support health and social care professionals to understand what matters to older carers. Drawing on lived experiences, the updated resource offers five Practice Tools designed for use by practitioners, teams, supervisors, and service managers. The tools explore:
- Stop, look, listen – think carer. A prompt for professionals to reflect on how they approach and engage with older carers, particularly before visits or assessments.
- The caring timeline. Supporting meaningful conversations with carers about how their role might evolve, and how to plan for changes over time.
- Supporting older carers to be socially connected. Encouraging thinking about how to support carers stay in touch with others and maintain important relationships.
- Supporting older carers to access support. Helping teams assess how accessible their services are and identify practical improvements.
- How are we doing? A reflective tool, based on the Triangle of Care model, to support team discussions around current practice and areas for development.
While general awareness of carers’ needs has grown, research shows that the specific needs of older carers are often overlooked. Melika Malone-Lee examines the vital role health and social care professionals play in supporting this area of practice.
Supporting practice with older carers
Explore an updated resource that aims to support practitioners to understand what matters to older carers, support carers to access services, reduce loneliness, and promote wellbeing.
To support Carers Week, the resource is open access until 16 June.
Supporting older carers and strengthening practice
For many older carers, knowing that someone understands their situation can make a huge difference.
Melika Malone-Lee outlines key research that informed the updated resources.
Supporting social work with carers
There are approximately 4.7 million unpaid carers in England who provide continuing help and support to a relative, partner, or friend. The Care Act 2014 gives carers a legal right to an assessment of their needs and suitable support to help them in their role.
Explore open access resources and tools that aim to support social workers to ensure that carers receive the information, advice and help they are entitled to. Commissioned by the Department of Health and Social Care and developed by Research in Practice, the resources include case studies, tools to support work with carers, and materials for professional development.
Supporting practice with older carers
While general awareness of carers’ needs has grown, research shows that the specific needs of older carers are often overlooked. Melika Malone Lee explores the important role health and social care professionals play in helping older carers feel seen, heard, and supported.
Supporting practice with older carers: Practice Tool (2025)
Explore updated resources that aim to support health and social care professionals to understand what matters to older carers.
Social work with carers
There are approximately 4.7 million unpaid carers in England who provide continuing help and support to a relative, partner, or friend. Access resources to support social work practice with carers.