Think carer-friendly

The amount and type of care they provide varies considerably. A carer might provide a few hours of support a week, for example shopping, collecting medication and taking someone to medical appointments, or they may care around the clock. Too often, caring for someone else has a damaging impact on their health and wellbeing; those caring for 50 hours or more a week are twice as likely to be in bad health as non-carers.

Carers Week is an annual campaign to raise awareness of caring, highlight the challenges carers face and recognise their contribution. This year it runs from June 8-14, and Carers UK has joined with five other major charities – Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support and the MS Society – to focus on building carer-friendly communities that support carers to look after their loved ones well and