Team Care

Why Supporting Family Carers Might Be the Smartest Move Care Homes Can Make

In a time when care worker shortages are deepening and operators are working harder than ever to fill shifts, one group continues to quietly hold the system together — unpaid, unseen, and often unsupported.

Family carers.

Sons, daughters, spouses, neighbours.
Providing essential care out of love, duty, or necessity — without formal training, breaks, or recognition.

Here’s the thing:
Some care providers already get this.
They run dementia cafés, invite families to participate, offer respite options, and build strong relationships long before someone becomes a resident.

But for many operators, it’s still an untapped opportunity — and it could be transformational.

Why support families who aren’t even residents?

It might feel counterintuitive. Why offer resources, support, and time to people who might never use your services?

Because in reality, supporting family carers benefits everyone — the system, the families, and yes, your care home.

1. Reduce strain on your workforce

The more confident, capable, and supported a family feels, the longer they can continue caring at home. That’s fewer crisis placements, fewer last-minute beds, and less pressure on your already-stretched staff.

2. When the time comes — they’ll remember you

Trust is everything in care. If you’ve helped someone care for Mum or Dad before they needed full-time support, you’re the natural choice when that moment arrives.

3. It’s proof you walk the walk

Everyone says they care. But going out of your way to support carers with no strings attached? That’s powerful. That’s what builds reputation — and real relationships.

The next step: A hybrid care model

Let’s go even further.

What if care homes invited families into the care model — not just at the start or the end, but throughout?

Not full-time. Not unpaid labour.
But structured, supported involvement.

Here’s how that could look:

• Encourage occasional family involvement in daily care (where appropriate) — even small gestures like helping with meals, walks, or activities.

• Show families how to track care and contribute notes to help build continuity and confidence.

• Invite families to join small working groups to improve life in the home — environment, activities, food, communication.

• Ask for input on what would help other families feel more confident in your service.

• Give them a role — as ambassadors, spokespeople, or peer supporters to new families.

This is about more than engagement. It’s about co-producing care. Making families feel empowered, useful, and valued — not just passive observers or ‘visitors’.

What support could you offer family carers?

It doesn’t have to cost much. Just start with empathy, listening, and intent. A few simple ideas:

• Monthly dementia cafés or carer support meetups

• Free downloadable carer guides (manual handling, personal care tips, burnout warning signs)

• Emergency respite packages

• Online or in-person Q&A sessions with your care team

• A named ‘Family Support Champion’ within the home

• Invitation to co-design ideas or test new initiatives

• Emotional wellbeing check-ins for those struggling with guilt, grief, or overwhelm

A new kind of care home

Some operators are already leading the way. They’ve realised that families aren’t the enemy of professional care — they’re an ally. They’re part of the team. And the better we support them, the better everyone fares.

We need to stop seeing care as a handover.
Instead, let’s build models where responsibility is shared — safely, supportively, and sustainably.

Hybrid care is not just a practical fix.
It’s a cultural shift.

Final thought:

Care doesn’t start at your front door.
It starts in kitchens, living rooms, hospital waiting rooms — often in silence, stress, and isolation.

If we’re serious about solving the care crisis, let’s support the people already doing the work.
Not just with a pat on the back — but with real tools, real access, and a real voice.

Because when it’s time for full-time care, families will remember who walked with them — not just who handed them a brochure.

by Team Care

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