Tag Archives: Older care
Caring For Carers: The Pressures of Caring For A Loved One With Dementia
Guest Blog Jason Tucker
Dementia is a debilitating illness, and sadly one that currently lacks a positive long-term prognosis. It’s natural that when someone is diagnosed with any of the many forms of dementia that the focus is on their well-being. In the early stages family members may well take on care roles, helping their loved one cope with the condition as far as possible. Many relatives, particularly spouses, will move to being full-time carers. This can be an excellent option, as the familiarity of home and family can make things easier for the person suffering with dementia, at least in the early stages of the disease.
Caring for someone with dementia is an all-consuming job, especially as the person’s condition deteriorates and they become increasingly disorientated and unable to carry out simple tasks. It’s not uncommon for carers to pour everything into their efforts, which is only natural. However, many carers lose sight of their own needs which results in stress, fatigue and burnout, none of which are good for the carer or their relative.
Family Carers need the internet for support and friendship
Why it’s important to get older people and carers confident online
Rates of digital exclusion in social care are higher than in the general population
The government’s digital by default agenda seeks to realise £1.8bn of savings by moving transactions with citizens online and it aims to boost the value of the economy by £63bn by developing better digital skills across the country.
Evidence suggests that being net savvy can save us time, money, make us feel better connected, less lonely and better informed. Conversely, being digitally excluded means having less (and diminishing) access to public and commercial services, to information and advice and to social interaction, all of which adversely impacts on wellbeing.
When depression affects 20% of older people living in the community and 40% living in elder care homes, compared with 10% of the population at large, and when national data shows that informal carers have lower levels of wellbeing than non-carers, being digitally literate is not just desirable, it becomes necessary.
Digital Unite research has shown that of those over 55s who are using the internet, four out of five (86%) said it had improved their lives, 72% said being online had helped reduce their feelings of isolation and 81% said using the internet makes them feel part of modern society. In addition, 20% of older learners in a Digital Unite social housing learning programme felt their understanding of health-related issues had improved as a result of being online.
