Block 3 Week 2: Caring & Carers Flashcards
What is Caring?
What are the different ‘employment’ types of carers?
Work/ practice of looking after those unable to care for themselves
Types:
Unpaid/ Paid
Contractual/ Non-contractual
Private/ Public
Where do paid carers work?
How can you define an unpaid carers?
Paid:
Residential home/ Day centres/ Personal care in someone else’s home
Unpaid:
Provide unpiad care by Looking after frail, disabled or ill family member, friend or partner
What are the statistics of the carers in the UK- age & gender?
10% population
Mainly female 58%:42% male
50-59 years = peak age
Increasing number over 65yrs
What are the statistics of carers- Ethinicity?
What problems can this create?
BME provide smaller proportion than white population for unpaid care
BUT
If age controlled- more likely to be proving care
Less likely to idenify as a carer
Less access to financial help
Report lack of culturally appropriate services
What are the statics of carers- LGBT?
NO official data
Estimated 400,000 LGBT carers
Who are carers caring for?
Mental Health Conditions (13%)
Dementia (10%)
Physical Disability (58%)
Frailty/ Old age (14%)
What are the main kinds of support unpaid carers provide?
Practical help (82%)
Keep an eye (76%)
Keep person company (68%)
Take person out (62%)
What is the economic value of unpaid carers?
Comparable to total spending on NHS (£57- 100 billion p/y)
How do most people ‘react’ to unpaid caring and do they identify as a carer and what is the consequence of this?
Willingly accepted
BUT
may not identify as a carer- miss out on support
What are the pros & cons of using the term carer?
Pros:
- Identify’s need –> Service
- Recognition of work & contribution
- Sense of identity
Cons:
- Only seen as the carer
- Puts people in a role they may not want to be in
- Others would prefer to be defined as eg: ‘mother’/ ‘son’ etc…
- Undermimes the person they are caring for
What are the overarching impacts of caring?
Financial
Work
Relationship/ Social exclusion
Health
Education (Young Carers)
What are the impacts of caring: Financial & Work?
Financial:
- Lower incomes
- Higher outgoings: laundary, heating, bills
- 1/3 Struggle to make ends meet
- 1/2 cut back on essentials
Work:
1/3 give up job
What are the impacts of caring: Relationship & Social exclusion
Lack of: Leisure/ Holiday time/ Social acitivies
Difficult maintain: Social networks/ Relationship
Individuals care for by relatives less likely to recieve support
BME carers less likely to recieve practical support
What are the impacts of caring: Health
Poor MH (92%) & Physical Health (61%)
Lack of time for own health
Injuries due to manual handling
What support is there for carers?
Financial:
- Carer’s Allowance (£64) if:
- >35hours care p/week
- if pt on disability benefit not earning >£120
- Carer Premium w/ means tested benefits
Ax:
- Care Bill (2014) gives local authorities responsibilty to Ax adult carer’s own need for support
Who are Young Carers?
166,000 between ages 5-18years (12 average age)
BME x1.5 likely to be carers
13,000 give 50+ hours of care p/week
Child/ Young Person care to: Parent, Sibling, Relative
What is the impact of caring on Young People?
- Absence from school
- Lower educational attainment
- Bullying/ Behaviour problems
- Social exclusion
- Stress
- Physical health problems
- Traumatic life changes
- Povety
- Lack support/ benefits
What support is avaible to Young Carers?
Social Serivces: legal entitlement
- Young carers needs assessment
Schools
Young Carers Projects:
- Break from caring & spend time with other young carers
- Counselling
- Support use of local services: leisure- health/fitness & support
- Liase with schools
- Opportunity to learn about their relative’s illness/diability
- HELP FAMILIES FIND OTHER SUPPORT SO WORKLOAD IS REDUCED ON CHILD
What is the role of Dr’s in supporting carers?
1) Identify & discuss the carer’s health needs
2) Provide responsive care for: individual & carer
3) Consider carer when planning pt care & discharge
4) Info about rights & entitlement
5) Signpost carers to services
