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Should we all be looking after our loved ones at home?

Kent County Council has to make massive savings in its care budget. The biggest chunk of money currently goes on care homes and nursing homes - 拢162m a year. The council is clear it wants fewer people to end up in a care home and it wantsmore of us to be looked after. Is that realistic?

Are you a carer? How are you coping? If you care - are you the only one who cares?

Are you at home waiting for the carer or have they already been? What are your days like? Is it always preferable to be in your own home or do you get lonely? How long does your carer stay?

Have we got frightened about care homes? We only ever hear the horror stories don't we and while it is important we know about abuse, if that is all we hear it paints a very one-sided picture.

If you could not cope any more and you had to choose a care-home for your loved one was it a relief, did it mean you could start to love that person again because you weren't ground down by the caring role? Or do you feel guilty?

Are your hands hurting this morning - really hurting, so that you cannot undo a jar or clean your teeth properly - you certainly cannot drive. How about your knees, or your hips, did you hobble to the bathroom?

The number of arthritis sufferers in the UK could double to 17 million by 2030.

We speak to Jo Cumming, from Arthritis Care who have compiled these figures and Professor Mike Hurley - Professor of Rehabilitation Sciences at St George's, University of London.

We hear your views and stories.

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