Carers in the South West are suffering due to lack of support
New research from Carers Week 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 (10-16 June), the findings show that 78% of carers were unprepared for all aspects of caring. A further 76% 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 6.5 million carers in the UK (that’s just over 180,000 in the South West alone) and around 500 people taking on a new caring role every day in the South West, 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 49% of carers saying they had to give up work.
The results also highlight how carers’ physical, emotional and mental wellbeing can suffer. 60% of carers have experienced depression and nearly all carers surveyed (93%) say they feel more stressed because of their caring role.
The survey also emphasised the strain that caring can put on people’s relationships. 48% of respondents have experienced difficulties in their relationship with their partner and 70% have found it difficult to maintain friendships.
Helen Clarke, Carers Week Manager, commented: “The impact of caring for a loved one or friend is an issue that we simply cannot ignore. Every day across the South West 500 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.”
Henrietta Spink, from the South West, who cares full time for her adult sons who are both disabled, explained how caring has changed her life: “Being a carer has been a privilege and an honour, but it’s also been an emotional rollercoaster. We had no support when we started caring and the result was that we felt incredibly isolated and alone. We had to go into survival mode and just get on with it. At points it’s been a devastatingly lonely journey. We were abandoned by family, alienated from groups like other mums and dads and that does get you down. I’d like to see more support available for carers - people really don’t know who to turn to when they start caring, and the consequences are huge.”
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 is delivered by a partnership of national charities – Age UK, Carers Trust, Carers UK, Independent Age, 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
Join in with the conversation on Twitter: @carersweek
