ABSTRACT
The contribution of informal carers to the care of older people is widely acknowledged, and has been emphasised in the practice and policy guidance following the passage of the 1995 Carers Act. A significant body of research has illustrated that informal support is also moderated by factors such as place of residence, gender and the relationship between user and carer. In the Evaluating Care for Elderly People (ECCEP) interviews with principal informal carers, these individuals were asked to indicate what they did to assist the user during the course of a week. Domestic care assistance such as light and heavy housework and laundry is provided by a wider range of informal helpers than those involved in assisting with personal care. Some types of informal care inputs require a significant time commitment from principal carers, while other types of support can be provided on an infrequent basis.
