Study title

Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.

The Survey of Carers in Households, 2009-2010 was commissioned by the Department of Health as part of the Government's Carers' Strategy programme. Funded by the Department of Health and the Department for Work and Pensions, the Health and Social Care Information Centre (NHS IC) undertook responsibility for the survey. GfK NOP was commissioned to carry out face-to-face interviews over 11 months of fieldwork in a representative sample of homes in England.

Carers were identified via a short screening 'prevalence' questionnaire at addresses which were randomly selected from the Postcode Address File (PAF). Carers were defined as those people who identified themselves as having extra responsibilities of looking after someone who has a long-term physical or mental ill health or disability, or problems related to old age. People providing care in a professional capacity were excluded.

The main questionnaire then identified carers who also fitted the General Household Survey (GHS) definition of 'Carers', which excludes those caring as volunteers for a charity or organisation, those caring for someone in an institution, those providing financial support only and those caring for someone with a temporary illness or disability, and asked a further range of questions.

Further information may be found on the NHS Digital Survey of Carers in Households - 2009/10 England webpage.


Main Topics:

The prevalence questionnaire covered household demographics and structure and aimed to identify carers eligible for the survey. The main questionnaire covered household information, whether respondent met the GHS definition of 'carer', support given to main person(s) cared for, support for carer, access to specific services for carers, impact of care-giving on carer, impact of care-giving on employment prospects and demographic details.