Dementia Gateway: supporting carers

Carers play an absolutely vital role in the care and support of people with dementia - and yet often they have to battle with the health and social care system to be heard. This section sets out some ideas for working in partnership alongside carers, as well as suggestions for how professional care staff can better support carers.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE) have launched a new section of their Dementia Gateway website 'Working alongside and supporting carers'. This new section gives practical tips and advice to health and social care staff to support carers caring for someone with Dementia.

Carers of people with dementia very often have a huge amount of knowledge and expertise, and it is for health and social care staff to recognise this and work alongside them, whilst also making sure they get the support they need to continue with their caring role.

This new section includes:

• Becoming a carer: adjusting to a new role
• Supporting carers at the time of diagnosis: welcome to the care system
• Working alongside carers: linking carers with support systems
• Supporting carers in hospitals and care homes: new location, new role
• Supporting carers of people with advanced dementia: when needs increase
• End of life care - carers' needs: support at this complex, painful time.