New Carers Week research finds most people unprepared for their caring role
79% were unprepared for caring role
- 84% said they were not aware of the support available
- 62% of carers have experienced depression
- 89% of carers say they feel more stressed because of their caring role
New research from a Carers Week survey of over 2,100 carers has revealed that carers are being woefully let down by a lack of support when they first take on a caring role. The findings from the report, Prepared to Care? show that support is not being made available to new carers with often devastating consequences.
Released to coincide with the launch of Carers Week 2013, the findings show that 79% of carers were unprepared for all aspects of caring. A further 84% of carers say they were not aware of the support available and 31% believe they were given the wrong advice about the support on offer.
With around 214,000 carers in Northern Ireland1 (6.5 million in the UK) and 69,000 people taking on a new caring role every year2, the charities within the Carers Week partnership are calling for the government, GPs and health and social care professionals to ensure that more support is given to carers from day one of their caring role.
The research goes on to outline the huge emotional, physical and financial effects that caring can have as people are not prepared for the impact of their caring role.
Impact of caring
The survey shows that carers often struggle to balance work and their caring responsibilities, with 41% of carers saying they had to give up work.
The results also highlight how carers' physical, emotional and mental wellbeing can suffer. 62% of carers have experienced depression and nearly all carers surveyed (88%) say they feel more stressed because of their caring role.
The survey also emphasised the strain that caring can put on people's relationships. 51% of respondents have experienced difficulties in their relationship with their partner and 62% have found it difficult to maintain friendships.
Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland, commented: "The impact of caring for a family member or friend is an issue that we simply cannot ignore. Population changes, and proposed reforms to health & social care, mean that supporting carers is more vital than ever before. Every single day in Northern Ireland, nearly 200 people take on new caring responsibilities and too often they face the challenges of caring without support. Becoming a carer can happen overnight and without information and guidance, carers can be left feeling isolated and alone.
"The figures clearly show that carers aren't being offered support and if they are, it can often be wrong or not the full information. The consequences for carers are huge, so it's vital that GPs, health and social care professionals and the government all play a role to ensure that carers are offered the support they deserve from day one."
Esme Charles, who looks after her husband Denis explains her experience as an older carer:
"I think most people aren't prepared for the caring role they take on. Despite helping my husband for 40 years, it didn't strike me until very recently that I had become his carer. I gave up work to look after Denis and we managed as best we could until we hit a crisis point and didn't know how to get help. Thankfully a friend pointed us in the right direction. As I get older though, caring is taking a toll on me physically, emotionally and mentally, and it's difficult to get the time I need to myself. You learn about caring as you go along but more information and training early on would have helped me be better prepared for what was to come."
Sinead Challinor, who looks after her husband John who has MS said:
"When John was diagnosed with MS, aged 30, it was a complete shock, tainted with a
little relief that his ongoing illness was not immediately life threatening. As a young couple starting out in life we were focused on getting married, securing a home and starting a family. Preparing for a long-term progressive illness was not on our radar. Like many I naively believed all the medical assistance and support required would simply be made available to John as and when he needed it. Unfortunately that has proven not to be the case."
Carers flagged as part of the survey that they would have benefitted from better support and information from day one. As part of the report, Prepared to Care? carers stated what would have made a difference to their experience , they included:
1. Better public understanding and recognition of carers
2. Access to information and the right support from the beginning
3. Professionals understanding the role of carers and sharing information, decision making and planning with them.
4. Access to high quality practical and emotional support and information as well as breaks from caring
5. Flexible working practices and understanding from employers
6. Financial support and a fair and easy to navigate welfare system
Carers Week in Northern Ireland is delivered by a partnership of national charities – Age NI, Carers Trust, Carers Northern Ireland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, Parkinson's UK and supported by the Stroke Association and Bupa's Carewell. In 2013 it is sponsored by Sainsbury's Plc and the sector skills council in England, Skills for Care.
Keep up to date with campaign developments at www.carersweek.org www.facebook.com/carersweek Twitter @carersweek
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For media enquiries, interview requests and case study requests, please contact John McCormick on 028 9043 9843 or email john.mccormick@carersni.org
Downoad a copy of the report, Prepared to Care? below
12011 Census figures for England, Wales and Northern Ireland including projected figure from Valuing Carers 2011 for Scotland
2Carers UK (2006) In the Know. The importance of information for carers
Carers Week surveyed 2,115 carers between March and May 2013.
Notes for editors:
1. Carers Week in Northern Ireland is delivered by a partnership of national charities – Age NI, Carers Trust, Carers Northern Ireland, Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie Cancer Care, MS Society, Parkinson's UK and supported by the Stroke Association and Bupa's Carewell. In 2013 it is sponsored by Sainsbury's Plc and the sector skills council in England, Skills for Care.
2. Carers Week takes place to recognise and celebrate the UK's 6.5 million carers and encourage them to access the support, advice and information they need that can help improve their lives and the people they care for.
3. Over 2,300 organisations take part in Carers Week, including local charities and voluntary organisations, hospitals, hospices and care homes and a growing number of employers.
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