Carers and Caring

September is rushing by at even more than its customary speed - after the more languid months of summer, everything seems to move up a gear at this time of year. One of the customary markers on the calendar for those of us with an interest in independent living is conspicuous by its absence this time round. I'm talking of course about the annual exhibition which shares our name, and has been held regularly at various London venues until the last event staged in 2006.

Whether this absence represents a hole in your diary or a welcome reprieve from what seems to be an ever increasing roster of exhibitions will depend on many factors. Personally, I have definitely been suffering from exhibition overload in the last few years, and this seems to be a feeling shared by many businesses in our industry, who find themselves trying to stretch their marketing budget around an increasing number of shows, which may or may not deliver the audience they are seeking.

Visitors also are expressing their interest in less stressful forms of research, with a growing enthusiasm for online, virtual events, where they can catch up with the latest news in the comfort of their own home or office, and at a time that suits them.

For Age Concern, last week was "silver surfer week" - a time to highlight increasing internet use by older people. The driver for this rush into new technology is, apparently, the desire to stay in touch with grandchildren who probably don't live nearby as they did in earlier generations. Internet, email and mobile phones are therefore essential tools. Whatever the reasons, the over-65s now spend more time on the web than the 18 - 24s, making products and services of interest to this group a real growth area.

Carers have been very much in the news recently - and there are perhaps a few small signs that they are moving up the political agenda as well. Such a large group of people, who are estimated to save the country as much money as the entire NHS budget - £87 billion - every year, certainly should be receiving rather more attention. Already, ten percent of the population is caring on an informal basis for a friend or family member who can't manage alone: as increasing numbers of us develop diseases such us Alzheimer's, this percentage is bound to grow.

Caring for each other, gladly and without expecting recompense, is an important part of the glue that holds society together: as we see it become increasingly fragmented and dysfunctional, it seems ever more vital to cherish those elements that still work. Even if it was affordable, can you imagine anything more soulless than a world where all care was delivered professionally and in an institutional setting?

Don't forget that we have an extensive area on the site dedicated to resources for carers

Please let us know if you come across any useful products or services that aren't yet included. And of course we always want to hear about your personal experiences, good or bad.

Please feel free to add your comments here.