Exploring the fruitful darkness of liminality: Informal caring for elderly family members and the impact on the self

This study examined the relationship between the informal carer and the cared for in the household. This was a phenomenological study, conducting in-depth interviews with a sample of informal carers in East Yorkshire. Findings indicated that some informal carers found the new role challenging and had an impact on their narrative identity which left them in a liminal position ‘twixt and between’ their previous identity and their new identity as carer. They lacked control over their lives, and the lack of professional support had a detrimental effect on their identity leading, on some occasions, to affect their mental health. This is a crucial issue in society today.