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
