Working With Diversity in Northern Ireland - for local health and social services staff providing information, practical advice, guidance and examples of best practice on equality and diversity under Section 75 legislation. Working With Diversity in Northern Ireland - for local health and social services staff providing information, practical advice, guidance and examples of best practice on equality and diversity under Section 75 legislation. Working With Diversity in Northern Ireland - for local health and social services staff providing information, practical advice, guidance and examples of best practice on equality and diversity under Section 75 legislation. Working With Diversity in Northern Ireland - for local health and social services staff providing information, practical advice, guidance and examples of best practice on equality and diversity under Section 75 legislation.
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People With Dependants » Other Carers » Health and Social Care

Health and Social Care

Social Changes

  • The growing numbers of elderly people born, with disabilities or disabled in later life, have meant an increase in the need for care.

  • An elderly parent may need care for as long as the years spent on caring for children.

  • Today families are smaller so there are few people to provide support.

  • Today most women marry, the single daughter is a rarity.

  • A high proportion of married women are in employment.

  • Carers may be of or approaching pensionable age.

  • Many carers are pensioners caring for elderly spouses.

  • A daughter looking after a mother in her 80's is likely to be drawing a pension herself.

  • A parent may reach retirement age and still be caring for a son or daughter with a disability.

(Source: The Cost of Caring (Summary Report) Equal Opportunities Commission for N.I.)


Other Issues
  • Stress

  • Isolation

  • Fatigue

  • Poor health

  • Limited social life

  • Employment issues

  • Worries about the future

  • Ex-carers

  • Support

  • Sense of duty and fulfilment

  • Young carers

  • Burden of care has fallen largely on women

  • Young carers; Homework and performance at school is a big issue

Other Concerns :
  • May need time off for emergencies or time out of the workplace to attend hospital appointments.

  • May need to rearrange or reduce their working hours.

  • Carers who give up paid employment can find it difficult to return to work when caring comes to an end.

  • Carers have needs.

  • Lack of information on carer's rights and services available.

  • Access to respite care.

  • Black and ethnic minorities may receive a stereotypical response from professionals - false belief that their own communities would support them.

  • Black carers less likely to receive services sensitive to their specific needs.

(Source: Kings Fund Carers Impact Programme 1999)

 
Key Findings
 
 
About the problems faced by families with a son or daughter with profound and multiple learning disabilities.
  • 60% of parents spent more than ten hours per day on basic physical care, one third of these parents said their caring role was continuous and meant they were caring for their son or daughter 24 hours a day.

  • 57% of parents were spending more than 8 hours per day on therapeutic and educational activities.

  • Parents were woken up three times per night on average.
The Support Given to Families
  • 48% received no support from outside the family to help with their core tasks.

  • 78% received either no support or less than 2 hours per week to help them cope with caring tasks.
    (Source: 'No Ordinary Life' – Mencap)
(Source: 'No Ordinary Life' – Mencap)
 
Information
 
Carers need easily accessible, up to date, information about :
  • the condition of the person to be cared for.

  • the health needs and treatment of the person they are caring for e.g. medication

  • where to go to get help.

  • how to access respite care

  • Carers should be involved in the timing of discharge from hospital and advice about future care.
Carers should be involved in the timing of discharge from hospital and advice about future care.
 
Support Networks - Belfast Carers' Centre
  • A charity organisation which provides support and information – across Belfast and Greater Belfast.

  • Provides Information and advice.

  • Someone to talk to.

  • Help with claiming benefits.

  • Help to access social services and health services.

  • Support groups

  • Advocacy work on behalf of carers

  • Social activities.
 
Carers Northern Ireland
 
  • Provide an Enquiry Service (on community care, carer's benefits and carer's rights)

  • Lobby's and campaigns on behalf of carers.

  • Provides two regular newsletters  

        'Carelink' specifically for Carers  
        'Factfile'   for professionals
Carers Information Network Website
 www.carersinfo.net


Aim: To improve the health and wellbeing of carers in Belfast.
 
The website offers carers who are isolated at home the opportunity to have access to the information they need and to talk with other carers.It gives details of carers groups, help with benefits, how to get breaks, and childcare.


Carers Information Network Partners:

  • Carers Northern Ireland
  • Belfast Carers Centre
  • Northern Ireland Citizens Advice Bureau
  • North and West Belfast HSS Trust
  • South and East Belfast HSS Trust.
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