Background and aims
The World Health Organisation predicts those aged 65 years and above will reach approximately 2 billion by 2050.  For many older adults with increased health and social care needs, the responsibility for care is typically placed on family/informal carers who provide vital, albeit an unpaid contribution to maintain the older person’s well-being. This can result in carers taking periods of time away from paid employment, early retirement and/or experiencing ill health themselves. This paper will present carers’ voices in supporting an older adult in chronic pain and to identify ways in which to best support carers in these roles.
Methods
Five major databases were searched using key terms (2009-2018) to identify empirical research focused on informal caregivers who support older family members living with chronic pain.  Titles and abstracts were reviewed independently according to defined criteria. 
Results
149 papers were identified, resulting in 98 after removing duplications, with a final sample of 10 papers meeting inclusion criteria.  Findings indicate:
•	Chronic pain is a shared experience between patient and carer
•	Carers can act as proxies in symptom assessment-sometimes better than health care professionals
•	Holistic pain assessment in dementia 
•	Fundamental lessons from palliative care
•	Training for health professionals
Conclusions
Informal carers are fundamental to caring for older family members living with chronic pain. Untreated pain is a cost to the older person and their carer. Holistic interventions need to be developed to support carers in these roles and help reduce the impact on their everyday lives.

AGEING AND SOCIETY: WHAT DOES THE RESEARCH LITERATURE ARTICULATE ABOUT INFORMAL CARERS' EXPERIENCES WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT FOR OLDER FAMILY MEMBERS LIVING WITH CHRONIC PAIN?