Study aims to find out how Carers are using their time

A new joint research project by the University of Stirling and the University of Southampton aims to find out how carers are spending their time.

The researchers are working together on a project funded by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) which aims to find out about how people who provide unpaid care for older people use their time. They also hope to learn about the tasks and activities they do for the person they are caring for.

The University of Stirling is looking for informal carers, people who provide unpaid help or support, of older adults aged 55 and over to take part.

The University are hoping to learn more about what activities people do as part of their care role and better capture experiences of providing support.  They hope that the research gathered can offer better information for policy makers to decide how best to support people who provide unpaid care for older people in the future.

The research involves completion of a time use diary for a week at a time, and for a maximum of two weeks, approximately three months apart.  The diary has been co-produced by the University of Stirling and local carers of older adults.  Alongside the data collected from the online survey, the University will be completing interviews with carers using the paper-version of the diary.  People who participate online will be asked to complete surveys instead of interviews.

Participants are not paid for their input however they will be offered the opportunity to enter a prize draw.

If you would like to take part in the research, or if you wish to discuss the study further prior to making a decision, please contact University of Stirling researchers Nadine Thomas at nadine.thomas@stir.ac.uk or Rosie Ashworth on 01786 467728 or email rosalie.ashworth@stir.ac.uk