BLOCK ONE - UNIT ONE - BEING A CARER

BLOCK ONE - UNIT ONE - BEING A CARER

1. Carer means someone who looks after a friend, relative or neighbour who needs support because of illness, age or disability.

   • Family Carers (2006) - approx. 6 million saving £57billion a year
   • Often feel obligated to care for family

2. Ann and Angus

   • Angus (79) has Parkinson's Disease, Ann (37) stepdaughter given up work to care for Angus
     • Difficulty seeing herself as a carer
       • Does it matter? Yes for financial/practical support, to budget holders to plan carer support, to organisations which campaign for the rights of carers and to employers who are obliged to take account of employee's caring responsibilities.
     • Interdependence - Reciprocated support?

3. What affects care relationships?

   • Quality of relationship
     • Easier to care for someone you like
   • Choice
     • 'Are aware of acceptable alternatives yet still choose to care'
   • Support
     • Informal support - easier if family/friends support you in caring for an individual
     • Formal support - from outside agencies, i.e. care support worker in mornings/evenings

4. Caring a woman's role?

   • Considered a women's job however men do care, usually for wives or partners in later life.