A Bleak Picture of Caring in the UK

Submitted by tonyplant on November 2, 2006 - 16:21.

The Duty to Care campaign by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers is reporting findings from a study that they commissioned. The headline that is attracting most attention is that over half of carers (51%) across the UK have felt like walking away from their caring responsibilities.

Some of the stark findings of the report are as follows:

• Almost half of those caring for a partner, parent or child with a disability said they felt they never had a choice in taking up the role.
• With six million carers in the UK, this could equate to just over 3 million people walking away, which would mean that the NHS would not be able to provide the care needed to keep people living independently in their homes.
• A quarter of carers would like financial help; three-quarters would prioritiese time out, practical support and someone to talk to.
• Many carers recognise that there has been a change in their relationship and experience feelings ranging from anger to sadness about the loss of the previous relationship they had with the person they now care for.

The snap-shot series of carers' statistics that are attracting a lot of comment are that:

• 71% of carers said they were stressed.
• 83% of carers are frustrated by their caring role.
• 56% of carers feel depressed.
• 58% of carers are angry.
• 52% of carers are feeling overwhelmed.
• 53% of carers feel that they are taken for granted.
• 32% of carers are caring for a parent.
• 28% of carers are caring for husband/wife/partner.
• 14% of carers are caring for a child with a disability or illness.
• 64% of carers turned to family and friends for help.

Campaigns need to sensationalise their findings in order to attract attention but some of the coverage of this report is ill-judged. Although it is undeniable that many carers feel like walking away, the same sense of duty that led many of them to take up the role of carer would prevent them from abandoning their loved one. In my experience, it is this knowledge that can lead to carers feeling overwhelmed, uncared for, and taken for granted.

 

Shan Nicholas, Chief Executive of The Princess Royal Trust for Carers said,

These results are extremely worrying. Unpaid family carers in this country are key partners in delivery of primary care.

 

We are working to highlight the crucial role carers fulfil to the people who commission local support services. We have an ageing population which will increase the strain on the NHS and social services and more people will become carers. Getting the right support services in place for them is essential!

We do need a national discussion about the cost of doing nothing for carers and what we would agree to be the appropriate package of support for them and the people for whom they care.

 

 

 

Copyright 2006, Tony Plant Happystance Project

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