Thousands of unpaid carers struggling to find information on available support

New analysis of Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC) data by Which? Elderly Care has found that nearly a third (31%) of unpaid carers looking after an elderly relative (65+) struggled to find the information, advice and support.

The findings have been published as Which? Elderly Care launches a new free information hub for unpaid carers, which aims to plug this information gap and help 3.8 million unpaid carers in England find information they need.

Analysis of HSCIC data found stark variations in how easy it was for unpaid carers of elderly relatives to find information in their local area. Around half of these unpaid carers in Brent (55%), Hounslow (50%), Sheffield (46%) and Lambeth (46%) had difficulty finding information and advice.

In comparison, only one in seven (15%) of these carers in Halton – and around one in five carers in Redbridge and St Helens (17% and 18% respectively) – struggled to find information and advice.

Designed to supplement and bring together local authority information, Which? Elderly Care’s Carers Hub includes advice on how unpaid carers can arrange a carer’s assessment through their local council, get information on the financial support and the services available in their area, as well as advice on how to take a break from a caring role.

Alex Neill from Which? Elderly Care said: “It is worrying to see that despite local authorities having information available, many unpaid carers are struggling to find and make use of it. This could be because people don’t identify themselves as being an unpaid carer, or simply because they are short of time. Our Carer’s Hub is specifically designed to make the task of getting the necessary advice and information easier.”

To visit Which? Elderly Care’s Carers Hub, visit www.which.co.uk/elderly-care/for-carers