A study examining barriers faced by people with dementia and unpaid carers in accessing social care and carers’ needs assessments in England.
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Policy implications
Gaps
Commentary
This study highlights inequities in access to social care and carers’ needs assessments for people with dementia and unpaid carers. Lack of awareness about entitlements and complex systems mean that support needs often go unidentified or unmet.
Barriers are reinforced by system pressures. Professionals conducting assessments face time and resource constraints, which can limit the depth and effectiveness of assessment processes.
The persistence of unmet needs after assessment points to wider structural issues. Fragmented coordination between health and social care services reduces the likelihood that identified needs translate into practical support.
From a care equity perspective, improving awareness, accessibility and integration is central to ensuring that carers and people with dementia receive support based on need rather than ability to navigate complex systems. Without addressing these barriers, existing inequalities in access and outcomes are likely to continue.
A report examining barriers faced by Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers in accessing support in England.
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Commentary
This report highlights clear inequities in access to support for Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers. Although young carers from ethnic minority communities are more likely to have caring responsibilities, they are under-represented within formal support services, suggesting unmet need and barriers to access.
Cultural factors play a central role in shaping these inequities. Lack of awareness of services, concerns about stigma and expectations around family responsibility contribute to under-reporting of caring roles, reducing opportunities for assessment and support.
The evidence points to the importance of targeted and culturally competent approaches. Without services that reflect cultural context and address awareness and trust, existing systems risk continuing to exclude some young carers.
However, the report provides limited insight into wider structural drivers, such as poverty or policy design, that may further compound disadvantage. From a care equity perspective, addressing both cultural and structural barriers is likely to be necessary to improve access, experience and outcomes for Black, Asian and minority ethnic young carers.
A report examining inequities in out-of-hours care for people with advanced illness and their unpaid family carers, and options for improvement.
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Policy implications
Gaps
Commentary
This report highlights clear inequities in access to out-of-hours care for people with advanced illness and their informal carers. Gaps in provision during evenings, weekends and bank holidays leave many individuals without timely support, with impacts felt most acutely by carers.
Regional variation in service availability contributes to unequal experiences of care. People in some areas receive consistent out-of-hours support, while others face fragmented or limited provision, reinforcing place-based inequities.
Unpaid carers are particularly affected by these gaps. Insufficient professional support during out-of-hours periods increases stress and isolation, placing additional pressure on individuals who are already providing substantial care.
From a care equity perspective, the report points to the need for a coordinated national approach. Improved planning, communication and integration across providers could help ensure that access to out-of-hours care is based on need rather than location or time, supporting fairer outcomes for both those who draw on care and support and carers.
A study examining how having a registered carer affects adult health and social care utilisation and costs across care settings.
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Commentary
This study challenges common assumptions about the role of informal (unpaid) carers in health and social care systems. Rather than reducing service use, the presence of a carer is associated with higher costs and increased access across care settings, particularly within social care.
The findings suggest that carers play an enabling role, acting as advocates and coordinators who help individuals navigate complex systems and access support. In this sense, carers often address unmet needs rather than replacing professional care.
From a care equity perspective, the study raises concerns about individuals without carers. Lower service use among this group may reflect barriers to access rather than lower need, pointing to potential inequities in how support is reached and received.
The evidence highlights the need for policy approaches that recognise carers as part of the wider care system while also addressing gaps for people without informal support. Better integration, support and identification of caring relationships may help reduce inequities in access, experience and outcomes.
An analysis of how unequal conditions of care affect young carers and the implications for social policy.
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Policy implications
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Commentary
This paper highlights clear inequities in how young carers are recognised and supported within social care and education systems. Despite their significant caring responsibilities, young carers often receive less support than adult carers, contributing to unequal experiences and outcomes.
Educational impacts are central to these inequities. Caring responsibilities can disrupt attendance, attainment and social development, placing young carers at a disadvantage compared with their peers and shaping longer-term opportunities.
The evidence also points to the role of stigma in reinforcing inequality. Fear of judgement or negative consequences can prevent young carers from seeking help, leaving needs hidden and unaddressed.
From a care equity perspective, the findings underline the importance of policies that explicitly recognise young carers and respond to their distinct needs. Without inclusive, youth-centred approaches, inequalities in education, wellbeing and life chances are likely to persist for this group.
A qualitative study exploring how carers of people with dementia use assistive technology at home, focusing on awareness, burden and changing needs.
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Commentary
This study highlights the complex role of assistive technology in home-based dementia care. Carers often assemble multiple technologies to manage safety and daily support, reflecting both the potential value and the burden of technology use.
From a care equity perspective, information and affordability barriers are central. Carers with less access to advice or financial resources may struggle to identify suitable technologies or sustain their use as needs evolve.
The frequent abandonment of technologies underscores the importance of adaptability. Static solutions are poorly suited to the progressive nature of dementia, placing additional emotional and practical strain on carers.
Overall, the findings reinforce that the use of technology in care must be supported by clear information, ongoing advice and flexible provision. Without this, assistive technology risks increasing burden rather than supporting carers and the people they care for.
A qualitative study exploring how digital financial systems have changed money management for people living with dementia and their family carers since the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Commentary
This study illustrates how the digitalisation of financial management brings mixed consequences for people living with dementia and those who support them. While automated payments and card-based systems can reduce day-to-day burden, they can also obscure oversight and increase dependence on others.
The findings show that digital change often shifts responsibility rather than removing it. As systems become harder to navigate, unpaid carers frequently absorb additional financial tasks, adding to existing caring pressures. These dynamics are particularly pronounced where platforms are not designed with cognitive impairment in mind.
Usability emerges as a central issue. Digital finance tools that assume high levels of confidence, memory and comprehension can inadvertently exclude people living with dementia, even when intended to simplify processes.
Overall, the study highlights the need to treat financial digitalisation as part of care infrastructure. Ensuring that systems are accessible, supported and adaptable is essential if technology is to reduce burden rather than redistribute it onto carers.
A qualitative study examining how the digitalisation of social care affects older unpaid carers, focusing on choice, coercion and exclusion.
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Commentary
This study shows how the digitalisation of social care reshapes everyday caring work for older unpaid carers. While digital tools were sometimes seen as useful, many carers described a loss of choice as non-digital routes were reduced or removed.
Affordability and skills gaps emerged as central barriers. For carers already managing significant responsibilities, the need to pay for devices or data and to develop digital confidence added pressure rather than relief. These constraints meant that digital systems often worked better for those with existing resources, leaving others struggling to engage.
The findings also highlight the importance of how digital change is implemented. Where carers were not involved in design decisions, digital services were more likely to feel imposed and poorly aligned with real-world caring contexts. In contrast, co-produced approaches were seen as more responsive and respectful of carers’ needs.
Overall, the study illustrates that digital social care can either support or undermine access depending on the choices made around funding, design and delivery. Retaining offline options and providing practical support for connectivity and skills are not transitional measures, but essential conditions for fair and workable digital care.
Survey analysis from the State of Caring 2025 report examining how unpaid carers use digital technology and online resources to access information, support services and manage caring responsibilities.
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Policy implications
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Commentary
The State of Caring 2025 report highlights the increasing importance of digital information and technology in supporting unpaid carers. Online platforms are widely used to access guidance on benefits, services and caring responsibilities. This reflects broader shifts in health and social care systems, where information and service navigation increasingly take place through digital channels.
However, the report also suggests that digital access alone cannot address the practical and emotional challenges carers face. Technology may support information access, but carers continue to rely on professional advice, community services and peer support to manage complex caring responsibilities.
The findings also raise important issues relating to care equity. When support systems rely heavily on digital access, carers who lack reliable internet access, digital skills or confidence may struggle to obtain the information and assistance they need. This can create uneven access to support, particularly for older carers or those experiencing financial disadvantage.
Overall, the report reinforces the role of digital information as an important component of support for carers, while highlighting the need for inclusive design and multiple routes to assistance to ensure carers are not excluded from essential services.
A qualitative study exploring experiences of living and caring in technology-rich supported living environments for people living with dementia.
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Commentary
This study provides insight into how technology is woven into everyday life within supported living environments for people with dementia. Rather than being experienced as purely clinical tools, technologies such as wearables and mobile phones were often described as contributing to reassurance and a sense of security.
The findings also show that technology use is relational. Tenants’ ability to benefit depended on the support of both informal and formal carers, alongside opportunities to build digital confidence. Where this support was available, technology was more likely to be used in ways that aligned with residents’ preferences.
At the same time, the study highlights ethical tensions. Monitoring and assistive technologies raised questions about privacy, consent and autonomy, particularly as cognitive capacity changes over time. These concerns highlight the importance of clear governance and ongoing dialogue with tenants and carers.
Overall, the research suggests that technology can enhance supported living when it is thoughtfully integrated into care models. Ensuring that use remains person-centred, ethically grounded and supported over time is central to avoiding harm and enabling technology to contribute positively to dementia care.
