Caring for Carers

Yesterday in the news here in the UK, there was talk from doctors leaders about the need to screen carers for signs of depression.  It is thought that 1 in 20 patients registered with a GP practice is providing unpaid care, and in total an estimated 7 million people provide care for a sick or disabled child, or adult who could not otherwise live independently.  Of those it is thought that about 40%, are at risk of depression or stress because of their caring role.

People caring for a relative or friend, very often do so without thought for themselves and their health.  Carers neglect their own needs, instead concentrating on the requirements of those they look after, but it is only a matter of time before they, themselves become ill.

In most cases GP's are aware of a patients caring role, and it is suggested that if GP's were more active in there involvement with these carers they could help identify potential problems in the early stages,  It is suggested that carers should have more routine appointments with their GP's, that there should be carers "champions"at GP practices, that GP's should have a register of carers, and that audits should be carried out to measure improvements to carer support.

With GP's already under a huge workload from recent changes to the NHS, and the ever increasing demands from the government, it is difficult to see how GP's will fit this extra work in without extra resource and money being made available.

Also many carers are afraid of "failing" in their role as a carer.  Very often they cannot admit to the person they care for that they have a problem, for fear of the impact of this on that individual, and for fear that if they can't fulfil their role, what will happen to their relative or friend. This isolation, alongside the pressures, fears and anxieties of supporting an ill or disabled loved one, can take a serious toll on carers' mental health

The Department of Heath says that the government's care bill will help people find what support is available to them.

Currently it is estimated that unpaid carers save the public purse £119bn a year.

I remember reading an article called "Day in the Life" in the Sunday Times Magazine a few years ago, where an 8 year old girl, spoke about her daily routine, looking after her mother who has MS, and her younger sister, while still trying to attend school.  She had to get her mother out of bed, washed and dressed, as well as her sister, before she went off to school and then spent the day worrying about what she would find when she returned home.  Would her mother have fallen, and be on the floor, or would she have messed herself and need changing, or would she go home and find her mother fine.  She just wouldn't know before she walked through the door.  She talked about having no friends at school, because she couldn't go out to play, or to parties, because she needed to be with her mother.  Neither the school or her GP were aware of the role she fulfilled, and the article was absolutely heart wrenching, to think her childhood was lost in all this responsibility and worry.

And the sad thing is, that there are probably hundreds like her.

Will the governments care bill make any difference?  Sadly not.  It will be a lot of fine words and good intentions, but there simply isn't the real political will, or the money, to really make a difference to social care and to support carers. 

Local councils reported recently that over £800 million will be taken out of their budgets, and this is going to effect services.  One of the areas this will hit, is social care, and who and what they can provide.  So again this is going to put more of a burden on unpaid carers.

I'm lucky. I have carers who come to me 3 times a day, and my mother lives with me and helps with my care and meals, between these visits.  She's 81, and is amazing.  We can talk openly about the impact that being with me has on her and her health.  I encourage her to get out and have time away from me, and when I'm out, she can relax and do what she wants.  But even her role of as a "part-time" carer - and I don't think that's really an adequate term for it - is having an impact on her health.

I've often said that being ill is easy.  I get all the attention and support from doctors, nurses, social workers, etc. but my mother doesn't get any support.  She just has to be there, to help and support, and to watch me be ill.  Now that can't be easy for any mother.

So what I am saying here.  Well its simple really.  The government and local councils need to do more to help and support carers.  The care bill is a start but it doesn't go far enough.  Unless there is a real commitment to fund social care properly, then there is a crisis waiting to happen.  All party concensus needs to be reached to make this a non-political issue and sort it out properly once and for all.

Some one once said that you can judge a country by the way it treats it's children.  With the ever increasing elderly population, and the growing numbers of disabled and vunerable people, this will soon become our new bench mark.

If you have someone who looks after you, then remember how special they are.  It could be your husband or wife, your son or daughter, or your mum or dad, but they are special, and treat them as such.  Try to sit down with them, and ask them how they are, how they're coping, and thank them for what they do.

And if you are looking after some one, then you are a special person.  Take time for yourself, and remember that what you do is remarkable.

Its not Mothers Day here in the UK today - but I don't need to have a special day once a year to tell my mum how great she is.  I hope I do that everyday, because that's how I feel.  I have the best mum in the world - FACT!!!!!!!!!!!!!