Caring
This is Carers Week, from 8th to the 14th June.
In the UK 185,000 *people provide unpaid care to someone they know, they are the invisible workforce and are, quite literally, indispensable. By providing unpaid care for someone who is ill, frail or disabled, they save the economy an incredible £87 billion per year.
3 in 5 people will be carers at some point in their lives - carers often face a lack of recognition from employers, GPs and social workers, even friends and family. The main consequence of this lack of recognition is that carers suffer more than they need to. Carers struggle with their finances (Carer’s Allowance at £53.10 is the lowest benefit of its kind), health, job, social life and general wellbeing.
They becomes invisible while providing the care, at times it is round the clock without relief. In hospital or nursing home situations, the staff change shift at least every eight hours if not sooner.
If you know someone in a Caring role, give them a little time this week, make them a coffee (and wash up afterward!) sit and really listen or offer to relieve them for an hour or two.
You will never miss the time!
UPDATE: The figure 185,000 above is actually for Northern Ireland and not the whole of the UK, it is more like six million.
Nick said,
June 9, 2009 at 8:27 am
It’s scandalous the way carers are so often left to struggle on their own with precious little help from the state or the local community. As you say, professional carers have limited shifts and don’t have to be on call 24/7. Many carers are totally exhausted by the demands made on them and seldom get any organised respite. Yet the hidden financial savings to the state are enormous, as you say. Will any government ever be responsible enough to give them the greater support they desperately need?
Annb said,
June 9, 2009 at 9:47 am
I’m shocked to read this, I never realised the UK situation for carers was so bad. Speaking as a full time carer based in Ireland, I have to say we do get a better deal from government. This is as a result of many year’s of lobbying by the Carers Association. The weekly benefit is significantly better. There is also an annual respite grant of 1700 euro which allows us to buy help so that we can get a break. I’m fortunate as the person I care for is at the start of his life and he’s on the upward curve, my time spent with him has been some of the most rewarding of my life. I know the situation for many others is extremely difficult. They are the real unsung heroes of our society. Thank you for reminding us of what they do for us all.
Nelly said,
June 9, 2009 at 10:19 am
My hubby applied for, and didn’t get, Carer’s Allowance. He shrugged his shoulders and got on with it, reasoning that the help and support we get from Homefirst made up for it.
Nevertheless, during these last few years as the prime carer for his mother, I have seen how strained and tired he has become. It is no picnic running a home-based business and caring for a frail and rather cantankerous old lady. I think he deserves his favourite cake made to acknowledge Carer’s Week.
Thanks for reminding me.
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 10:41 am
@Nick - I lived in the shoes of a 24/7 carer for six years, and know what it is all about. I never regret one moment of the time I gave and would do it all over again. My aim above was to raise awareness without turning it into a ‘pity me’ post. the most hurtful part for me was when I was regularly told - - “You are alright. You can cope”! Words uttered as the person skipped away from my door to their car and a busy and perhaps exciting day or evening ahead.
@Annb - I am glad your situation is better than ours. Tough as my personal situation was, we did have some very precious moments and I treasure them. Being up almost every hour at night I lost the ability to sleep for longer than an hour at any time. That pattern is my legacy and has improved little even to this day.
@Nelly - Your Bert is a walking Saint! He deserves cake everyday.
One aspect always forgotten with long term home-care, is that the carer almost loses their home, their sanctum. It becomes a public place with a trail of Drs, nurses and if you are fortunate enough to have the support of a service like Homefirst (I didn’t), an army of people in and out of all areas of your house.
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 11:20 am
I checked out the Homefirst Carers support and advice page. They have an A-Z Guide for Carers. Pity it leads to an error 404 page!
Ian said,
June 9, 2009 at 1:44 pm
Grannymar,
I’d be astonished if the figure for carers in the UK was not much larger than 185,000 - is that the number who receive the allowance?
Doing the parish rounds here in Dublin, I meet carers who would never ever look for an allowance and I suspect that the UK situation is similar. Spouses, children, friends, neighbours, who spend hours and hours with someone because, whatever stories the media might suggest, most people are good and kind and caring.
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 2:10 pm
Ian,
That figure is actually for Northern Ireland. Digging deeper I discovered the Carers Week site. It gives frightening facts & figures…
1. There are almost six million carers in the UK
2. One in eight adults in the UK is a carer
3. 3 million people juggle work with caring responsibilities for a disabled, ill or frail relative or friend
4. The main carers’ benefit – Carers Allowance - is £53.10 for a minimum of 35 hours, equivalent to £1.52 per hour
5. People providing high levels of care are twice as likely to be permanently sick or disabled
6. Every year 2 million people take on new caring responsibilities
7. 1.25 million people care for more than 50 hours a week
8. 58% of carers are women, 42% are men
9. 1.5 million carers are over the age of 60
10. Carers’ unpaid contribution is £87 billion each year, yet the decision to care can mean a commitment to future poverty. Many give up an income, future employment prospects and pension rights to become a carer
Nancy said,
June 9, 2009 at 2:21 pm
Grannymar,
I’m not certain that I understand the Carer’s allowance you are speaking of. Is that a payment you receive from the government to help you in the care of a aged or ill relative?
We have no such thing here in the U.S.A. We have millions of people taking care of infirmed family members but there is no subsidy given to them by anyone and ,if you want to know the truth, very little help or credit.
I must say your Country is far ahead of us in the “Caring” department….
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 2:51 pm
Nancy,
The Carer’s benefit is a Means tested government allowance to help with the extra needs of the patient. The rate of £1.52 per hour is more of an insult than a bonus since it is not much more than the price of an 800g loaf of bread. The loaf costs £1.33.
Nancy said,
June 9, 2009 at 4:16 pm
Grannymar,
I agree that the stipend received by the “carer” isn’t much, but don’t you think it at least says, “We know you are there, helping and caring for someone who needs you?”
It’s more than anyone who is in charge of an ill person over here gets. At least you are recognized as being worth something.
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 4:41 pm
Nancy,
The rate of £1.52 per hour is an insult when you see that with effect from 1 October 2009, the national minimum wage adult rate (paid to workers aged 22 and over) will rise from its current level of £5.73 per hour to £5.80 per hour. Is somebody stacking shelves in the supermarket doing a more worthwhile job than somebody in the caring role, perhaps cleaning up vomit or other excretions, bed-bathing, lifting, dressing or feeding their patient. That can take hours and when completed the cycle begins all over again.
rummuser said,
June 9, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Grannymar, in India, almost every household will have carer/s. We do not have a formalized system but the families are expected to look after the old and the infirm and this is by and large done quite cheerfully and with a lot of help from many others from within the families and friends.
Sadly, due to urbanisation and modernisation, this is changing and I do see neglect and loneliness particularly among the older people with children who are part of our diaspora.
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 6:10 pm
Ramana,
This post has taken on a rather mercenary tone, it was not what I set out to do. I do know of several couples where the income in slightly above basic borderline, and therefore they receive no monetary assistance, yet extra laundry, heating or dietary needs eat into what little money they have.
I grew up with a caring ethic, we looked after our elders and loved ones without thought of cost. Some families were fortunate to have other extended family members about to assist or take over at times.
Nowadays there are many family units who like me have no relations near at hand and that makes the task more difficult. It is for people in that situation I wrote the post. We need to think about them and show them we care.
Darlene said,
June 9, 2009 at 6:43 pm
This is an often neglected topic that needs to be stressed by the media. When I was a child, relatives were the caregivers and were aided by friends and family. Those with no friends or family were shipped off the the poor farms to wait for death.
Now family members are often a thousand miles away and there is no one to care for the infirm unless they are wealthy enough to pay for someone to come in. As a result, they end up in nursing homes; often to be neglected. The ones who have caregivers are lucky, but the caregivers suffer greatly and often end up with health problems of their own. Being a caregiver is exhausting and draining on health and income. We can, and should, do better.
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Darlene,
I agree with you about the modern day and families living at different ends of the country or indeed the world. Nursing homes are a bit of a lottery and high fees are no guarantee of good service. There is a lot to be said for a heart attack or sudden death!
Magpie11 said,
June 9, 2009 at 8:12 pm
Some of these comments link with what is happening in education and the upbringing of children here in the U.K.
My experience as a carer is in the mental health field…even less recognition here… many of the sufferers end up supporting each other…I know someone who, in spite of his mental/emotional problems (as a result of abuse in an orphanage) and suffering with HIV, has a group of people around him whom he supports… he has his own supporters too. There are those of us who have to support family members with difficulties….. no real system exists…..
steph said,
June 9, 2009 at 8:13 pm
Grannymar,
Don’t you dare go popping your clogs!
Any anyway, you’re priceless!
Grannymar said,
June 9, 2009 at 8:48 pm
@Magpie - Two areas that certainly neet more care and attention.
@Steph - I have no plans to pop my clogs yet, although I put them together in neat order beside my bed at night!
Have a safe journey to Nottingham tomorrow we will all be thinking of you in the next few days. Hugs.
Baino said,
June 9, 2009 at 11:21 pm
Much the same here Grannymar. In fact a recent job I interviewed for was for a respite for carers organisation and they said that they had many young carers (under 15) who were looking after disabled parents or parents with Alzheimers. They were funded by the government because it’s cheaper to have people cared for in their own home than in an institution. Also it’s more familiar for those who have diseases that cause mental confusion such as dementia, to stay in their own homes. The carers however still get a rough deal financially and save the government millions on what would otherwise be rehab or hospital alternatives. Hats off to them I say.
roy said,
June 10, 2009 at 5:10 am
when I was a kid I remember some girls used to stay home and tend house while the boys went to school, I used think they were lucky…. not going to school but in reality they were deprived carers
Grannymar said,
June 10, 2009 at 8:53 am
@Baino - A world wide problem I think, we all need to be aware and do our bit to make a carer’s load easier.
@Roy - I remember those days, that was how I learned to cook!