'You do know he's had a stroke, don't you?' Preparation for family care-giving--the neglected dimension

Countries throughout the developed world have introduced a policy of community care for older people to reduce costs to the state and maintain quality of life. In reality community care is largely family care and recognition of the need to support family carers is being promoted through the notion of partnership with professional carers. Such a partnership calls for a more complete understanding of how carers' needs change over time and how professional support can be most effective. Support is particularly important at the start of care-giving in order that carers can exercise free choice and be adequately prepared for their role. This paper provides an overview an ongoing longitudinal study and reports specifically on the findings of data from a preliminary study in which a convenience sample of seven experienced carers of stroke survivors who attended a stroke and carers club were interviewed in their own homes. Based on initial data from a longitudinal study of stroke victims, this paper outlines four themes: 'What's it all about', 'Going it alone', 'Up to the job' and 'What about me?' These themes highlight the difficulties carers experience in the immediate aftermath of stroke.