Difficulties of being a Carer

Difficulties of being a Carer

1. For a female of the family, the assumption that they take care of an elderly relative. A sense of obligation if the relative is a parent.

2. Carers generally don't have any idea of what caring for a relative might actually entail. In Ann's case she says 'I do everything for my Dad. Everything! Get him up, shower him, toilet him, dress him, everything because he can't do it himself!'

3. Financial difficulties, having to leave work for example, also losing contact with friends, feeling isolated and lonely.

   • Ref (The Open University, 2010a, p. 10) in pink

4. Being torn between roles, if the carer is a wife or husband they feel torn between being a spouse and carer. This also applies if they have children too. This affects the quality of relationships in a family.

   • Ref (The Open University, 2010a, p. 8) in pink

5. Being a carer can be hard work physically as well as mentally. The cared for may express to the carer that they are burden which in it self is very emotionally distressing for the carer.

   • Ref (The Open University, 2010a, p. 9) In Pink

6. Other emotions are stress, emotionally demanding, guilt, and being trapped by a sense of duty. Also if the cared for doesn't want anyone else to look after them, this can put more stress on the carer as they feel they are prevented from getting help from anyone.

   • ref (The Open University, 2010a, p. 8) in pink

7. The cared for could be quite demanding of the carer and not understanding that the carer has needs of their own. This is more apparent if the carer is a child of the cared for and more so if the carer is a young carer.

8. Lack of support from official agencies, generally this is because the carer has very little information on which to act, or the carer is reluctant is get help. This is generally because they don't consider themselves to be a 'Carer'