Carers Week round-up

How social media is connecting carers

“Sandwich” carers John and Jean Pearson talk about their responsibilities

An estimated 6m people in the UK are carers – giving their own time to help support a friend or relative with a disability, illness or condition.

This week is Carers Week, when the focus is on the contributions and sacrifices of this hidden army, who save the state £119bn every year.

As well as highlighting the needs and concerns of carers, this week also provides an opportunity to identify and support carers. As Judith Cameron points out in a Carer’s Week comment piece for SocietyGuardian, a caring role has not been chosen and often remains unrecognised, even by those closely involved:

“Carers still suffer financially, emotionally and physically as a result of their added responsibilities and – as they always have done – struggle on. This is partly because they have no choice, and because they often don’t see themselves as carers.”

This is echoed in Homa Khaleeli’s moving interviews with carers and the cared-for, in which nurse Colin Barrett, a carer for adventurous wheelchair user Martin Symons, says

“I don’t think of myself in terms of being a carer – I just think of Martin as a friend I help to go on trips.”

It’s interesting too how many of Khaleeli’s interviewees have already been affected by cuts or fear the imminent imposition of cuts. A survey published to coincide with Carers Week found more than 80% of unpaid carers are worried about cuts to services.

Charity Action for Children is highlighting the effect of cuts on young carers. It says a nationwide survey reveals that services supporting 1,192 young carers have had their budgets cut by up to 30%, while a further 192 young carers are supported by services that have had their budgets slashed by 40% or more.

An estimated 700,000 children and young people have caring responsibilities for a family member. Action for Children says it fears young carers are facing increased feelings of loneliness, isolation and anxiety, and being a carer is known to affect young people’s physical and mental health, as well as their later life chances.

Hugh Thornbery, director of children’s services at Action for Children says:

“Every day we are seeing that young carers’ needs are increasing. We are concerned that families will begin to rely on their child to provide them with care that the state would have previously provided. This is unacceptable. We know many young carers are passionate about supporting their families, but to do so they also need support. Inappropriate caring responsibilities, unsuitable living conditions and the emotional stress of handling the household finances are often too much for adults to cope with, so why should children be left to face this burden alone.”

Reguar SocietyGuardian contributor Saba Salman focuses on young carer Ryan, whose father has Crohn’s disease and mother is disabled, on this post on her Social Issue blog.

Social media is increasingly being used to reach out to and help connect carers, as well as shine a spotlight on the issues carers face.

Throughout Carer’s Week, charity Spurgeons UK has been posting updates by 12-year-old Victoria, who cares for her mum, who suffered a near fatal brain tumour six years ago. See @victoria_cares on Twitter or the Victoria Cares Facebook page.

Charities Carers UK and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers both have strong presences on Twitter, while the hashtags #carersweek and #whocares have helped to signpost news, comment and resources.

The newly-relaunched forum on the Carers UK website is helping to provide a lifeline for carers, as Sue explains in this film. The charity is also highlighting the extra challenges faced by “sandwich” carers, who have found themselves caring for younger and older relatives at the same time – like Jean and John Pearson (see clip above), who look after their son James, who has multiple disabilities, while also helping look after Jean’s mum, who has dementia.

The Social Care Institute for Excellence has a number of useful videos, including this film focusing on sandwich carer Rose Fernandes. Fernandes cares for her daughter Crystal who has autism and learning difficulties, and her mother who has dementia.

Blogging is also providing an outlet for carers. I must recommend some new blogs I’ve been reading this week: A Husband for a Carer, and Alwaysmore.

Finally, do take the time to watch this inspirational video posted by the Big Lottery Fund to mark Carer’s Week.

From the age of six, only child Andy cared for both his parents. His father suffered from heart problems and type-two diabetes and his mother had mental health problems as well as various physical illnesses and disabilities. Andy didn’t enjoy going to school and was often bullied – apparently a common problem for young carers – and also received little understanding or support from his teachers.

He eventually found help through a Children’s Society project for young carers, and after a house move settled in at a new sixth form college, where he gained three As and a B at A-level. He went on to study law at Cambridge, graduating last year with a 2.1. Go Andy.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/joepublic/2011/jun/17/carers-week-social-media-connecting