Care and Carers

Question 1

What is care?

Answer 1

A set of tasks to help with personal management, continence, eating, mobility and advice, with emotional commitment driven by love or concern to deliver effectively.

Question 2

What is a carer?

Answer 2

A person who provides long term help to a disabled person. Usually a member of the immediate family, but also includes social care staff, non qualified social workers in residential services.

Question 3

What kind of payment do family carers receive?

Answer 3

Family carers are informal and unpaid and so receive a carer’s allowance. Must care for >35hrs per week to receive and caring for multiple people has no influence.

Question 4

Who is included in care providers?

Answer 4

Family and friends
NHS
Local authorities - day care
Charities with specialised services
Private sector - residential homes

Question 5

What is the personal health benefit and what does it allow?

Answer 5

Pts with a care need are assessed for how many hours of care they require to provide the money to hire a carer.

Question 6

What is causing difficulty recruiting for staff care?

Answer 6

The concern with abuse and neglect

Question 7

What is the conflict of caring for a Pt with a severe cognitive impairment?

Answer 7

Treated as an autonomous adult vs need to ensure they receive basic nursing and personal care for health

Question 8

What is the conflict of caring for a Pt?

Answer 8

Allowing them to take risks vs protecting from danger and exploitation
Allowing them to make decisions vs protecting from the consequences

Question 9

Who form typical family carers?

Answer 9

White women (60%) aged 45-64yrs. 50% remain in employment.

Question 10

Why do people care for their family?

Answer 10

Part of ordinary obligations and activities of family life. The support is reciprocal.

Question 11

What issues may there be with spouse carers?

Answer 11

May feel exposed and vulnerable due to lack of knowledge. Alters the income into the household, the relationship and responsibilities. It is 24/7

Question 12

When is stress highest for a carer?

Answer 12

Upon first diagnosis, towards the end of life and is linked to the number of hours of care needed.

Question 13

What type of parents are usually carers?

Answer 13

Single parents who live in poverty.

Question 14

Which type of carers are affected disproportionately?

Answer 14

Those with low incomes or of an ethnic minority due to the restricted access to local services.

Question 15

What are the issues associated with being a parent carer?

Answer 15

May be stigmatised with the responsibility of the production of the disability, may feel guilty. It affects income, QoL and mental health due to the time consuming needs.

Question 16

What type of families respond best to becoming carers?

Answer 16

Those that are diverse, flexible and adaptive to unforeseen events

Question 17

What are the impacts of being a young carer / sibling carer?

Answer 17

May cause anxiety or depression from social isolation and the missed opportunities of socialising with other children. With less time for education and employment.

Question 18

What types of activities are young carers usually involved in?

Answer 18

Personal care, domestic work and translating

Question 19

What are the risks of abuse or neglect in caring?

Answer 19

Carers may have their own problems or be angry about the burden leading to abuse or neglect. If dementia Pts are left alone it can be dangerous or they may become violent. Failure to care for a Pts needs properly.

Question 20

When is institutional care usually used?

Answer 20

After a breakdown of family care.

Question 21

What additional support is provided and why is it important?

Answer 21

To prevent the breakdown of family care.

• National carers strategy
• Financial support
• Respite care
• Domiciliary support
• Social and psychological interventions
• Caring with confidence training

Question 22

What is respite care?

Answer 22

Services that provide day or night care, social clubs or short breaks to allow carers to continue their daily routines, overcome social isolation and continue with employment. Usually for Pts with intellectual disabilities

Question 23

What is domiciliary support?

Answer 23

e.g. meals on wheels, home help
It is based on the extent of the disability and unavailability of other support. Less likely to receive if a family carer is present.

Question 24

Who are warrior carers?

Answer 24

Due to statements and care assessments, family carers do not get the help they need and so access to services becomes dependent on the carer acting as an advocate to fight for the pt. Less likely to succeed if less education or have less time.

Question 25

What is the equality act 2010 and carers act 2015?

Answer 25

It protects carers from direct discrimination against caring for someone with a disability. The carers act allows family and informal carers to be assessed for support services.