Terms such as
"Informal" and
"Unpaid viewed
as belittling to the
carer.
"...The term 'carer' means
someone who looks after a
friend, relative or neighbour
who needs support because of
their sickness, age or disability.
It does not mean a
proffessional care-worker in a
nursing home, for example - or
someone employed by a
disabled person." DIRECT GOV
2006
WHO IS A TYPICAL CARER
*STATISTICAL DATA FROM 2001*
6 million unpaid carers
equal to 12% of adult
population
58% women
42% Men
Peak age for caring is between 50 - 59 years
68% provide 0 -19HPW
11% provide 20-49HPW
21% provide 50+HPW
How do people become Carers?
Family Obligations
Only Child
Closest relative
Reciprication of care
Person requiring care assists in other ways eg. Babysitting, Cooking.
"Paying back" of caring role previously held by person requiring care (eg. parent)
"Expected to do it"
"Woman's work"
Only Child
Live with person requiring care.
No one else to help
Person has no family/ family live far away
Isolated community
Do not know what help is available or where to ask.
Do not see themselves as "Carers"
Often the amount of care and
support given "creeps up" on
the Carer - not fully aware of
how much they have taken on
and the demands that this
places on them and the
extended network.
ADVANTAGES OF
RECOGNITION
This is important to...
CARER: If they wish to
apply for financial
support
BUDGET HOLDERS:
So they can plan
what support is required in
which areas
ORGANISATIONS:
So they know who
requires this
support
EMPLOYERS:
They are legally
obliged to take
a carer's caring
responsibilities
into account.
May be entitled to practical help and support
Carer's allowance
Support targeted to their needs
"Proffessional Carer's" assistance
"Home Responsibility Protection"
- pension is protected if unable to
work.
Legislation places a duty on the local
authority to let Carers know what
support they are entitled to.
Legislation makes it possible
for the Carer to have their
needs
(Caring/Training/Lesiure)
assessed - not just the person
requiring care
Large step admitting being a Carer to
oneself as well as others
DISADVANTAGES OF
RECOGNITION
complicating factors
TIME SPENT CARING
Must be over 35 HPW
to meet Government
definition for financial assistance.
May fluctuate or be difficult to measure
LABELLING AND
IDENTITY
May not want/accept "Carer" label
Difficult to accept or
clashes/contrasts with percieved
role/identity
INTERDEPENDENCE
Caring may be recipricated - not just
"one way" caring
Often happens within famiies
NETWORKS
Extended family may also be
assisting with care tasks
Definition of carer focusses
attention on one person even if
there is a network of support
May not qualify for any "outside support"
May be unwilling to admit they
are a Carer either to themselves
or other people
The person they care for may
be unwilling to accept they
are being cared for
Caring role may fluctuate -
would qualify some times but
not others
Places the onus, and
acceptance of responsibility
onto the Carer.
Usually unpaid by
the person
requiring support
May be eligible for
Carers Allowance and
other benefits,
however conditions
apply - may affect both
existing benefits not
only of carer but also
the person requiring
support.
In 2006 - 6 million Carers in
this position
SAVE THE GOVERNMENT BILLIONS OF
POUNDS IN CARING FEES
Recognised role in legislation.
Carers (recognition and Services) Act 1995
First Legislation to officially recognise Carer
role - amended Social Work (Scotland) Act.
Carers Equal Opportunities Act 2004
Community Care and Health (Scotland) Act 2002
Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968
All current legislation covers carers
aged 18 and over - No legislation
at present for carers under this age
however in Scotland a new
Carers law is in the consultation
stages which will include young
Carers for the first time.
CARERS
ALLOWANCE
WWW.GOV.UK
*INFO CORRECT
2014*
£61.35 PER WEEK
Flat rate even if caring is done for more than 35 HPW
MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR FURTHER
BENEFITS
Income related benefits
Pension credits
PAID DIRECTLY TO CARER HOW
THEY CHOOSE
Every week
Every 4 weeks
Every 13 weeks
COVERS ADDITIONAL CONTRIBUTIONS FOR THE CARER
National insurance credits
Additional state pension contributions
Can also affect the benefits recieved by
the person being cared for - eg: Severe
disability premium or Council tax
reductions.
Must meet the governments
definition of a carer to qualify
CASE
STUDY 1:
Angus
McPhail,
Ann Walker,
Zoe Walker,
Bob Walker,
Yetunde
Unit 1
PARKINSONS DISEASE
CASE
STUDY 2:
David
Sinclair,
Veronica
Sinclair,
Unit 13
MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS
CASE
STUDY
3:
Anwar
Malik,
Hansa
Malik,
Unit 2
DIABETES
WHAT IS IT
LIKE TO CARE
Demands skill
Obligation
Has consequenses for
"other" people - ie.
extended family
POSITIVE
rewarding
Labour of love
Stregthen relationship
NEGATIVE
Hard work
Restricting
Isolating
Emotionally demanding
Guilt provoking
stressful
WHAT IS IT LIKE TO BE
CARED FOR
POSITIVE
Enabling
Maximises strength
Strengthens relationship
Promotes independence
NEGATIVE
Loss of power/control
Lack of choice
Feeling of burden
Fear
Isolation
Changes dynamic
of relationship
WHAT AFFECTS CARE
QUALITY OF RELATIONSHIP
Care takes place in the
context of the existing
relationship
Particular emphasis on state of
relationship prior to caring
beginning
Strengths and weaknesses of the relationship
are still the same and can be played upon by
either the carer or the person requiring
support
CHOICE
If positive then has better
outcome for both parties
Not straight forward
Complicated by outside factors
Financial
Social
Lack of options
SUPPORT
INFORMAL
May be non existant for some people with support needs
FORMAL
Entitlement to this support
Unaware of support available
The amount of either type recieved can make
a big difference to caring ability
CHANGING FAMILIES
PETER TOWNSEND: THE FAMILY LIFE OF
OLDER PEOPLE 1957
Shared caring responsibilities amongst family members
Almost half of interviewees
lived with younger family
members
Most of the others had family nearby
The average per interviewee was over
10 family members living within one mile
of them
85% of those
with children had
an adult child living
within this
distance
Very few children moved away from parents
People kept in
frequent contact -
only 4% of those
with children did not
see a child once a
week
Caring tasks within families
were recipricated until the
person requiring care became
too ill or infirm
"The two way traffic is an
essential feature of the family"
Those with no
available family were
in the worst position -
most likely to require
state assistance.
DENCH ET AL: THE NEW EAST END:
KINSHIP, RACE AND CONFLICT 1992-2005
Ethnic diversity - 1/3 population Bangladeshi origin
"Lot of lonely old peoole who don't see a soul"
Living in 1 bedroom flats
Family dispersed - leaving the area and moving further afield
Young people leaving home
Networks smaller (having smaller families)
Families willing to care but
large pressure on them when
they try to do this
CARING ONLY BECAME A
METTER OF PUBLIC INTEREST
DURING THE LATE 20TH
CENTURY DUE TO CHANGES
BETWEEN STUDIES