Carer support and empowerment

The need for support for carers has been recognized and endorsed by a number of official reports, including those from the National Audit Office, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the Department of Health Care Services Improvement Partnership. The needs of carers of people with dementia are now well established and are summarized in this article. Support for carers is needed at all stages of dementia from early diagnosis through to when the person with dementia is admitted to a care home. Legislation over the last decade has resulted in progress towards empowering carers, and examples are given. Further structural change to the health and social care system is expected to bring additional improvement. The voice of carers is increasingly recognized as a force for change.