Week Eight - Carers In Society Flashcards
What are lay/informal carers?
People living in the community that are not paid for their role. They are usually a close relative, friend and do not have carer qualifications
What things to informal care givers do?
assist with activities of daily living
give emotional support
be the voice for the patient
may manage financial matters
What 2 things may carers be identified as?
Primary Carers: Main providers of care.
Secondary Carers: Assist/support the primary care giver, to a lesser extent
What is the average age of a care giver?
54
Which gender is the most prominent as a carer?
Females
What percentage of carers perform 40 hours or more unpaid work a week?
1/3
What are sandwich carers?
Those who are caring for someone whilst also caring for other family members
What are the needs of carers and why?
Financial
- loss of income
- cost of care services
Physical
- own health deterioration
- need respite
Mental
- loneliness
- grief/loss
Carers often experience a loss of what?
social contacts
leisure activities
sense of self
free time and conversation
What is used to determine the caregiving burden?
The ZBI
What are some positive aspects of care giving?
feeling more useful
good about themselves
feeling appreciated
strengthened relationships
What do dementia carers have higher risks of?
Depression
More unmet needs
Poorer quality of life and health
Dementia carers have long-term correlates/outcomes of caring such as?
Psychological distress stress and burden chronic fatigue lowered immune system depression mortality
Why are Tasmanian carers at high risk?
very isolated carers
high socio-economic disadvantage
second highest suicide rate nationally
high dementia burden
Are Indigenous or Non-Indigenous more likely to be carers? Why?
Indigenous - Due to health disparities they experience (12.5%)
What are some developmental challenges faced by young carers that are not commonly faced by older carers?
Simultaneously undertaking educational study or training
Spending less time in school or completing homework
Face difficulties in skilled employment or future academic-based endeavours
Low employment rates
At risk for sleep difficulties and suicide/self harm
Why are carers important?
They help reduce the burden on the health care sector and economy
What is carer respite? How long does it last?
It is the idea of giving the carer and recipient a break
short term = couple of days/hours
long term = couple of weeks
What kind of services are provided in respite?
Home based care
Skilled nursing
Residential programs
What 3 barriers are there to seeking help?
Practical
- money
- lack of services
- creating time
Psychological
- focus on other not on self
- burnout
- guilt if not 24/7
Cultural/Social
- duty
- language barriers
What is one big barrier to reaching carers?
The jargon behind it.
A lot of carers do not identify as being a carer
- ‘this is just what i do’
What therapy produces the strongest benefits for carers?
CBT and it is the only type of therapy that can delay institutionalisation of PWD
What designs should future interventions include?
Participatory (life in society)
Action (experience)
Research (mind, knowledge)
Programs that adopt this tend to be more culturally responsive to local contexts and foster a culturally safe environment for program participants.
Should pay particular attention to individuals needs
What are the strategic priorities of the international alliance of carer organisations?
increase awareness and recognition of ideas
enhance understanding of the impact of caring
create a global strategy and commitment to action to carers
facilitate capacity building of the IACO
