ABSTRACT
Evidence from looking at England and the US has made it clear that the construction of social ‘norms’ regarding the role of family and disability has led to very distinct local practices. It was possible to trace how each nation viewed the role of the family in providing care, and the state’s own responsibility in providing assistance. The structure of the welfare system and the range of rights were much more than the organisation of services or benefits; it marked how each nation viewed social and familial responsibilities as well as the social construction of disability. Although there was a common objective in both countries to maintain the care recipient’s dignity and independence in their own homes for as long as possible, the discourses regarding the responsibility of ‘family’ differed greatly. As a result, carers were directly and indirectly affected by a significant range of different acts of legislation and restructuring policy as well as budgetary targets. The resulting material and institutional effects were premised on the discourses, ideologies, and interactions within the state at particular times.
