Carers of persons with dementia and the social consequences of caring

Abstract

Caring affects the social relationships of unpaid carers and the families of those being cared for in multiple ways. Care for a person with dementia often becomes demanding and requires reconciliation of caring with a personal life, work and social relationships. Carers are also prone to care poverty. In this article, we examine the social consequences of providing care for a person with dementia. Based on 21 diaries written by carers, and using the concept of ailment as an analytical lens, the analysis broadens our understanding of how unpaid care can have manifold social repercussions on a carer’s life.