Dementia carers Effective information,

support and services to meet their needs ▀ Carers are the mainstay of dementia care in the UK and the Alzheimer’s Society estimate that at least 670,000 people are acting as a primary carer. ▀ As dementia is on the increase, carers will be essential in helping health and social services meet the demand for care. ▀ Carers are known to experience high rates of depression and anxiety. Their need for practical and emotional support to relieve the stress of caring is equally high. ▀ Psychosocial therapy can improve carers ’ health and well-being; combining two or more psychosocial interventions is likely to be more effective than a single intervention. ▀ Developing carers ’ coping skills can improve their psychological health and well-being. ▀ Carers indicate they need staged access to clear and understandable information about dementia generally and on the availability of advice and support services