Supporting the Carers of People with Challenging Problems course for GPs

Carers face a wide variety of challenging problems every day. This session focuses on just four problems that carers find difficult to cope with: behaviour problems; incontinence; communication problems; and their own sense of loss and grief.

This session was reviewed by Khyati Bakhai and last updated in November 2020.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Support carers through difficult challenges
• Include carers as part of the multidisciplinary team and acknowledge and respond to their views
• Use a problem-based approach to tailor support to the individuals concerned
• Identify local health and social support services available and know how to signpost carers to these

Although carers can be any age, the peak age is 50-59 years and more than one-in-five people in their 50s are providing some unpaid care. Over-65s account for a third of those providing more than 50 hours care a week, and many have their own health problems too.