RPF 14/15 Provision of informal care in England: exploring geographical and cultural associations and neighbourhood characteristics to inform policy

People increasingly rely on help from families/friends/neighbours to conduct daily activities. This help is often called informal care. Providing informal care is likely to be influenced by an individual’s own characteristics but also by the observation of caregiving and associated/related behaviour in the same or neighbouring communities. Our research aims to explore whether geographical (at community level) dependency in the supply of informal care exists and to identify factors that explain patterns of informal care provision. This can add to the establishment of ‘best practice’ guidelines and policy on how to support and encourage strong community caring behaviour