Many adults care for family or friends. There are nearly six million people providing unpaid care in the UK. Caring can be a very rewarding experience but can also be demanding. In the National Carers Strategy (HM Government, 2008), it was reported that 71% of carers suffered from poor physical or mental health. Many of these carers felt that this was affecting the person they were caring for. Carers can sometimes feel that they are on their own.

At Princess Alice Hospice we provide outstanding end of life care to adult patients and also support their families and friends. Our Community Team of Princess Alice Nurses is one of the largest specialist teams in the UK and they are able to provide carers with guidance and support. Our Social Workers and Chaplain provide counselling and advice on emotional, spiritual and practical matters.

The Hospice runs regular Carers Group meetings where people are able to talk about their experiences with others in a similar situation and get advice about any problems they are facing.

We are very interested in learning more about the needs of carers and how we can support you better. By gaining a better understanding of the needs of carers, we will improve our ability to provide families with the services they need.

Please complete the following short questions:

	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
I have a good level of emotional support	*Support for caring I have a good level of emotional support Never	I have a good level of emotional support Sometimes	I have a good level of emotional support Often	I have a good level of emotional support Always
My needs as a carer are considered by professionals	My needs as a carer are considered by professionals Never	My needs as a carer are considered by professionals Sometimes	My needs as a carer are considered by professionals Often	My needs as a carer are considered by professionals Always
I am happy with the professional support that is provided to me	I am happy with the professional support that is provided to me Never	I am happy with the professional support that is provided to me Sometimes	I am happy with the professional support that is provided to me Often	I am happy with the professional support that is provided to me Always
I feel able to get the help and information I need	I feel able to get the help and information I need Never	I feel able to get the help and information I need Sometimes	I feel able to get the help and information I need Often	I feel able to get the help and information I need Always
I have all the practical support I need	I have all the practical support I need Never	I have all the practical support I need Sometimes	I have all the practical support I need Often	I have all the practical support I need Always

	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
I feel that my life is on hold because of caring	*Caring choice I feel that my life is on hold because of caring Never	I feel that my life is on hold because of caring Sometimes	I feel that my life is on hold because of caring Often	I feel that my life is on hold because of caring Always
My social life has suffered because of caring	My social life has suffered because of caring Never	My social life has suffered because of caring Sometimes	My social life has suffered because of caring Often	My social life has suffered because of caring Always
I feel I have less choice about my future due to caring	I feel I have less choice about my future due to caring Never	I feel I have less choice about my future due to caring Sometimes	I feel I have less choice about my future due to caring Often	I feel I have less choice about my future due to caring Always
I feel I have no control over my own life	I feel I have no control over my own life Never	I feel I have no control over my own life Sometimes	I feel I have no control over my own life Often	I feel I have no control over my own life Always
Caring stops me doing what I want to do	Caring stops me doing what I want to do Never	Caring stops me doing what I want to do Sometimes	Caring stops me doing what I want to do Often	Caring stops me doing what I want to do Always

	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
I worry about going into debt	*Money Matters I worry about going into debt Never	I worry about going into debt Sometimes	I worry about going into debt Often	I worry about going into debt Always
I feel satisfied with my financial situation	I feel satisfied with my financial situation Never	I feel satisfied with my financial situation Sometimes	I feel satisfied with my financial situation Often	I feel satisfied with my financial situation Always
I am able to save for a rainy day	I am able to save for a rainy day Never	I am able to save for a rainy day Sometimes	I am able to save for a rainy day Often	I am able to save for a rainy day Always
I worry about money	I worry about money Never	I worry about money Sometimes	I worry about money Often	I worry about money Always
There is enough money in our house to pay for the things we need	There is enough money in our house to pay for the things we need Never	There is enough money in our house to pay for the things we need Sometimes	There is enough money in our house to pay for the things we need Often	There is enough money in our house to pay for the things we need Always

	Never	Sometimes	Often	Always
I am satisfied with my performance as a carer	*Ability to care I am satisfied with my performance as a carer Never	I am satisfied with my performance as a carer Sometimes	I am satisfied with my performance as a carer Often	I am satisfied with my performance as a carer Always
I can meet the needs of the person I am caring for	I can meet the needs of the person I am caring for Never	I can meet the needs of the person I am caring for Sometimes	I can meet the needs of the person I am caring for Often	I can meet the needs of the person I am caring for Always
I feel I am able to make the life of the person I am looking after better	I feel I am able to make the life of the person I am looking after better Never	I feel I am able to make the life of the person I am looking after better Sometimes	I feel I am able to make the life of the person I am looking after better Often	I feel I am able to make the life of the person I am looking after better Always
I can manage most situations with the person I care for	I can manage most situations with the person I care for Never	I can manage most situations with the person I care for Sometimes	I can manage most situations with the person I care for Often	I can manage most situations with the person I care for Always
I am able to deal with a difficult situation	I am able to deal with a difficult situation Never	I am able to deal with a difficult situation Sometimes	I am able to deal with a difficult situation Often	I am able to deal with a difficult situation Always

	1	2	3	4	5
Social	*Which kind of caring support would you welcome the most? (1 being high priority and 5 being low priority) Social 1	Social 2	Social 3	Social 4	Social 5
Counselling	Counselling 1	Counselling 2	Counselling 3	Counselling 4	Counselling 5
Complementary Therapy	Complementary Therapy 1	Complementary Therapy 2	Complementary Therapy 3	Complementary Therapy 4	Complementary Therapy 5
Spiritual	Spiritual 1	Spiritual 2	Spiritual 3	Spiritual 4	Spiritual 5
Advice claiming benefits or grants	Advice claiming benefits or grants 1	Advice claiming benefits or grants 2	Advice claiming benefits or grants 3	Advice claiming benefits or grants 4	Advice claiming benefits or grants 5
Bereavement Support	Bereavement Support 1	Bereavement Support 2	Bereavement Support 3	Bereavement Support 4	Bereavement Support 5

Carers Survey

1. Support for caring

2. Caring choice

3. Money Matters

4. Ability to care

5. Which kind of caring support would you welcome the most? (1 being high priority and 5 being low priority)

6. How would you like Princess Alice Hospice to support carers? (tick all that apply)

7. Is there anything else you would like to tell us about your needs or experiences as a carer?

8. Where do you live? (name of nearest town - not full address)

9. If you are interested in being involved in further Hospice carers research please provide your name and address below.