Meet the 5.8 million voices research can’t afford to overlook

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Field Locker has launched a new research community giving organisations direct access to more than 50,000 adults caring for ageing parents and relatives across the UK.

There are an estimated 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK.

They are helping parents, relatives and loved ones navigate some of life's biggest decisions — from healthcare and social care to finances, housing, mobility and technology.

Yet despite the influence they have over so many important choices, carers can be a difficult audience for researchers to reach.

We want to change that.

Introducing Field Locker's new carers research community

Field Locker has partnered with a leading UK community care organisation, giving us access to a large and engaged community of adults who are actively caring for ageing parents and relatives.

The community includes more than 50,000 members, creating a new opportunity for brands, researchers and organisations to speak directly to people with first-hand experience of caring for an older family member.

This isn't simply an audience with an opinion.

These are people making decisions every day.

They are researching care options, speaking to healthcare providers, managing finances, considering changes to the home, choosing technology and mobility solutions, and helping family members remain independent for longer.

Understanding their experiences can provide valuable insight into both the needs of carers themselves and the needs of the older people they support.

Why carers matter to researchers

The UK's ageing population means more families are becoming involved in supporting older relatives.

That can put carers at the centre of a wide range of purchasing and service decisions.

For organisations operating in healthcare, financial services, technology, housing, mobility or later-life services, understanding how these decisions are made is increasingly important.

But traditional consumer research doesn't always capture the complexity of the caring experience.

A daughter arranging support for an elderly parent, for example, may be researching products and services on someone else's behalf while balancing cost, accessibility, independence and the wishes of the person receiving care.

That creates a very different decision-making journey from a conventional consumer purchase.

Speaking directly to carers helps researchers understand those journeys.

What can the community be used to research?

Our carers community can support quantitative and qualitative research across a broad range of subjects, including:‍

‍Healthcare and social care: experiences of services, providers and care pathways

Financial planning and later-life support: how families approach costs, savings and financial decisions

Family decision-making: who influences decisions and how choices are made

Technology and assistive products: adoption, usability and barriers to new technology

Housing and independent living: adaptations, downsizing, accessibility and staying athome

Mobility and transport: how changing needs affect travel and transport decisions

‍Consumer products and services: understanding the needs of both carers and ageing consumers

The community can also provide access to people with direct experience of particular caring situations, allowing research to go beyond broad demographic targeting.

Looking to conduct research with carers?

Whether you're developing a new product, reviewing an existing service or simply trying to better understand the experiences of people supporting ageing family members, our new community can help.

With access to more than 50,000 members, Field Locker can support both quantitative and qualitative projects designed around your research objectives.

Want to understand carers and the decisions they make?

Talk to Field Locker about your next research project.

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