Adapting to Change in the Caring Context

For older people requiring long-term support due to chronic health conditions, the bulk of care is provided by family members and friends. In 2015, it was estimated that care provided by informal carers to people living with dementia was equivalent to 40 million full-time workers and expected to increase to 65 million by 2030 [1]. Although commonly referred to as ‘caregivers’, ‘carers’, ‘care partners’ or ‘informal carers/caregivers’, many people who provide this support do not identify as such or may not see their role as outside the realm of being in a supportive relationship or family network. Furthermore, it is important to remember that providing support to their loved ones is only one of the roles in their lives. For the purposes of this chapter, we will use the term carers.