[5] Carers Flashcards
What is a carer?
A person who looks after a relative or friend who needs support because of age, physical, or learning disability/illness
Is a carer a health or social care worker?
No, they must be a lay-person rather than a health or social care worker
What proportion of adults are carers?
1 in 8
What % of carers are women?
58%
What is the peak age of carers?
50-59
How many carers are of working age?
3 million
What proportion of carers of working age will be forced to give up work?
1 in 5
Members of what community are more likely to be carers?
Bangladeshi and Pakistani
How much more likely are members of Bangladeshi and Pakistani communities to provide care compared to white British?
3x
In order, who is most commonly a carer?
- Parent or in law
- Spouse/partner
- Friend/neighbour
- Other relative
- Grandparent
What happens to roles with older age?
Old age is accompanied by role change and often role loss, and most people can expect transformation in occupational, family, and community roles. For many, the number of different roles declines in later life
What are some of the major contributors to social and psychological problems for older age people?
- Loneliness from losing spouse or friend
- Inability to independently manage regular activities of living
- Difficulty coping and accepting physical changes of ageing
- Frustration with ongoing medical problems and increasing numbers of medications
- Social isolation
- Feeling inadequate from inability to work
- Boredom from retirement and lack of routine activities
- Financial stresses from loss of regular income
What is the importance of the factors contributing to social and psychological problems for older people?
They can have a negative impact on the overall health of an older individual, and so addressing these psychological problems is an integral component of old age medical care
What HCPs can help with the physical aspects of an older persons care?
- Doctor
- Nurse
- SALT
- Pharmacy
- Dietician
What HCPs can help with the mental aspects of an older persons care?
Psychiatrists
What HCPs can help with the environmental aspects of an older persons care?
Occupational therapists
What HCPs can help with the mobility aspects of an older persons care?
Physiotherapists
Who can help with the social aspects of an older persons care?
- Family
- Friends
- Social worker
What impacts can caring have on a carer?
- Physical health
- Mental health
- Isolation and relationships
- Financial
What impact can caring have on long-term health?
People providing high levels of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled
What % of carers have negative physical health effects?
83%
What % of carers have negative mental health effects?
87%
What are some negative mental health effects of caring?
- Stress
- Depression
What happens to the risk of poor health with increased duration of caring?
It increases
What stats indicate the impact of caring on isolation?
- 37% care without support from social services or friends/family
- 29% care with support from family but not social services
- 4 in 10 have not had day off from caring in 18 months, or holiday in last 5 years
Describe the impact of caring on relationships?
Most carers feel as if their role has a negative impact on relationships with friends/family
What are the potential financial implications of caring?
- Reduction in work hours or needing to give up work
- Disability benefits do not cover costs, and many pay for care needs themselves
What commonly results from the financial implications of caring, according to surveys?
- Struggling to pay household bills
- Inability to afford repairs to house
- Cutting back on food
- Unable to pay rent/mortgage
What support is available for carers?
- Social services
- Financial
What can social services offer to carers?
- Assessment for patient
- Separate assessment for carers own need
- May help put carer in touch with respite homes etc
How much is carers allowance?
£58.45/week, or £1.71 an hour
What criteria must be met in order to receive carers allowance?
Must care for at least 35 hours a week and earn no more than £100/week
