ABSTRACT
This chapter considers informal caring in two ways: firstly, it discusses the changing role of informal caring as defined through the wider social and legislative context; secondly, it explores informal caring as defined by informal carers themselves. It focuses on personal geographies of caring to explore the changing role of informal caring, and how this may influence, and be influenced by, the restructuring of health and social care as experienced through the dependency network. The chapter also aims to provide an insight into the practice of the network as experienced by those located at the micro-level. Informal caring arrives through, and takes place within, a relationship. Debate over state versus family care has been a major theme running through the history of social policy. Many carers do not formalise the 'provider' role that they play, rationalising their contribution to community-based care as simply 'looking after mum or dad' or a close relative.
