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Supporting older co-resident carers of older people – the impact of Care Act implementation in four Local Authorities in England
- Authors:
- O'ROURKE Gareth, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Social Policy and Society, 20(3), 2021, pp.371-384.
- Publisher:
- Cambridge University Press
The Care Act 2014 provides for ‘parity of esteem’ between people with social care needs and carers. This is achieved by extending the principles of prevention and wellbeing to carers; reinforcing carers’ right to an assessment; and setting national eligibility criteria for access to carer support services. This article reports on research that examined the impact of these changes on older co-resident carers of older people in four English local authorities. Findings are described in relation to four key themes: organisational arrangements and rationale; the aims of carer support and preventative services; design and delivery of carer assessment; and barriers to assessment and support. The findings of the research suggest that, despite the new statutory requirements, underlying contradictions and tensions in local authorities’ relationship with carers, and efforts to support them, remain unresolved. (Edited publisher abstract)
The emotional landscape of accessing and navigating formal supports for older adults in one Western Canadian city
- Authors:
- FUNK Laura M., HOUNSLOW Wanda
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Care and Caring, 3(4), 2019, pp.531-548.
- Publisher:
- Policy Press
Emotions may be pivotal to understanding how fragmented care systems for older adults can generate structural carer burden. Analysing 78 interviews with 32 carers who navigated formal services in a Western Canadian city, the research explores and distinguishes between emotional responses to navigation challenges and the emotion work that navigation entails. Emotional responses had a temporal dimension, and, at times, both positive and negative emotions coexisted simultaneously. Symbolic and normative understandings of interactions with providers, and of ‘caring well’, shaped emotion work throughout navigation. Discussion focuses on how broader contexts, through emotional processes, indirectly contribute to carer stress and strain. (Edited publisher abstract)
"You don't stop the worrying": the difficulties of caring in later life
- Author:
- INDEPENDENT AGE
- Publisher:
- Independent Age
- Publication year:
- 2015
- Pagination:
- 40
- Place of publication:
- London
Drawing on findings from focus groups and interviews with older carers, this report explores their experience of caring, what issues most concern them, where they find support in their caring, and what more support is needed. Older carers agreed that caring took a heavy toll on them, and had multiple impacts on their quality of life. It was clear that carers perceived that some of the impacts of caring were exacerbated by their age. Particular impacts affecting older carers included: difficulties keeping up with family and friends; financial constraints; poor health; and stress. They identified a range of gaps in support available to them, problems accessing services and a lack of support from the wider community in their role as carers. ‘Former carers’ made clear that there were important differences between the experiences of those whose loved ones moved into residential care or supported / independent living, and those who were bereaved. The report sets out older carers’ priorities, which include: improving carers’ access to support, in particular by ensuring GPs play a part in identifying carers and signposting to support; addressing inadequacies in care and support services available to carers’ loved ones; developing a ‘carers’ friend’ service to provide one-to-one practical and emotional support for carers; and improving support for bereaved carers, offering them opportunities to find mutual support among those with similar experiences. (Edited publisher abstract)
Service barriers of Chinese family caregivers in Canada
- Authors:
- LAI Daniel W.L., SURWOOD Shireen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 51(3-4), 2008, pp.315-336.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
The growing numbers of older people in North America means that more elderly people require care, and family carers have become an important part of the health system. The challenges they face can be made greater by “service barriers”. Community services are not taken up by 44% of Canadian carers, particularly those from ethnic minorities, and this article studies the barriers faced by Chinese carers in Calgary, which include the length of waiting lists, professionals not using the language of the service users, professionals who do not understand Chinese culture and who are not ethnically Chinese. A telephone survey to 315 Chinese households used16 service barriers identified in a previous study and results indicated that these could be grouped into five different types – cultural barriers, administrative problems, circumstantial challenges, perceived negative quality of services and personal attitudes. Financial factors significantly influenced the number and types of service barrier carers experienced, and findings indicate the importance of culturally sensitive support for carers in order to improve access to services.
Direct payments, independent living and mental health: an evaluation
- Authors:
- SPANDLER Helen, VICK Nicola
- Publisher:
- Health and Social Care Advisory Service
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 106p., bibliog.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Community Care (Direct Payments) Act came into force in April 1997, and from April 2003, Local Authorities have been required to make direct payments to people who are assessed as eligible to receive them and want them, including people in contact with mental health services. However, most have not yet given serious consideration to the implementation of direct payments in mental health and the number of people with mental health needs who have taken up direct payments has remained low in comparison with other groups. The purpose of the National Pilot was to promote independent living through the increased take up of direct payments in mental health. It included five key components: the recruitment of Site Co-ordinators from within local service user networks; the setting up of Steering Groups to oversee the progress of the pilot; the organisation of All Sites Days at six monthly intervals to enable representatives from participating sites to discuss progress and share ideas about implementation; and the setting up of an e-mail discussion group and newsletter.
Direct payments, independent living and mental health: an evaluation: executive summary
- Author:
- HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ADVISORY SERVICE
- Publisher:
- Health and Social Care Advisory Service
- Publication year:
- 2004
- Pagination:
- 3p.
- Place of publication:
- London
The Community Care (Direct Payments) Act came into force in April 1997, and from April 2003, Local Authorities have been required to make direct payments to people who are assessed as eligible to receive them and want them, including people in contact with mental health services. However, most have not yet given serious consideration to the implementation of direct payments in mental health and the number of people with mental health needs who have taken up direct payments has remained low in comparison with other groups. The purpose of the National Pilot was to promote independent living through the increased take up of direct payments in mental health. It included five key components: the recruitment of Site Co-ordinators from within local service user networks; the setting up of Steering Groups to oversee the progress of the pilot; the organisation of All Sites Days at six monthly intervals to enable representatives from participating sites to discuss progress and share ideas about implementation;and the setting up of an e-mail discussion group and newsletter.
Caring but not coping
- Author:
- SALE Anabel Unity
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 29.4.04, 2004, pp.32-33.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
Discusses cases of carers harming or killing the older people they care for. Highlights the importance of support services for carers.
The impact of self-funding on unpaid carers: lightening the load or adding to it? Briefing
- Authors:
- WARD Lizzie, RAY Mo, TANNER Denise
- Publishers:
- Wellcome Trust, University of Lincoln, University of Brighton, University of Birmingham
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 12
This briefing draws on research findings from the Ethical Issues in Self-funded Social Care: Coproducing knowledge with older people project. This participatory research project explored how older people experience the process of finding and paying for personal care from their own resources in three local authority areas in England. Tight needs-based eligibility criteria and a fixed financial threshold for local authority care mean that an increasing number of older people have to pay for their own social care. The bulk of personal care is received by older people with high level needs and multiple conditions, including dementia. Navigating the self-funded care market and managing private care arrangements are complicated processes. For many older people who are paying for their care, it is their family or close friends (‘unpaid carers’) who take a main role in finding, arranging and overseeing the care arrangements. This can place heavy responsibilities on unpaid carers, over and above their other caring tasks. Responsibilities for self-funded care are not only practical, such as finding suitable care, agreeing the terms and managing and monitoring payments, but also emotional, bound up in the dynamics of relationships between people. We need to recognise the demands of this unseen dimension of caring and the impact that giving support with self-funding has on the lives of unpaid carers. Otherwise, instead of lightening the load, the purchase of self-funded care adds another layer of responsibility, anxiety and stress for unpaid carers. (Edited publisher abstract)
A UK survey of COVID‐19 related social support closures and their effects on older people, people with dementia, and carers
- Authors:
- GIEBEL Clarissa, et al
- Journal article citation:
- International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 36(3), 2021, pp.393-402.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
Objectives: The aim of this national survey was to explore the impact of COVID‐19 public health measures on access to social support services and the effects of closures of services on the mental well‐being of older people and those affected by dementia. Methods: A UK‐wide online and telephone survey was conducted with older adults, people with dementia, and carers between April and May 2020. The survey captured demographic and postcode data, social support service usage before and after COVID‐19 public health measures, current quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between social support service variations and anxiety and well‐being. Results: Five hundred and sixty‐nine participants completed the survey (61 people with dementia, 285 unpaid carers, and 223 older adults). Paired samples t‐tests and X2‐tests showed that the mean hour of weekly social support service usage and the number of people having accessed various services was significantly reduced post COVID‐19. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher variations in social support service hours significantly predicted increased levels of anxiety in people with dementia and older adults, and lower levels of mental well‐being in unpaid carers and older adults. Conclusions: Being unable to access social support services due to COVID contributed to worse quality of life and anxiety in those affected by dementia and older adults across the UK. Social support services need to be enabled to continue providing support in adapted formats, especially in light of continued public health restrictions for the foreseeable future. (Edited publisher abstract)
No longer able to care: supporting older carers and ageing parent carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care
- Author:
- CARERS TRUST
- Publisher:
- Carers Trust
- Publication year:
- 2020
- Pagination:
- 48
- Place of publication:
- London
This report highlights how older parent carers and ageing carers who face additional barriers to accessing services should be supported to prepare for a time when they are less able or unable to provide care. The report uses existing evidence, evidence gathered from surveys of carers and service providers, focus groups with carers, and interviews with experts, to make the case for improvement for support for carers preparing for changing circumstances when they are, or will be, less able, or unable, to care. Key points raised in this report include: carers need support to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care; carers need to be identified early and support put in place to enable them to plan for the future; carers who are from communities who face additional barriers to accessing services need services that are open and actively welcoming to them as well as the option of accessing specialist support if they need it. The report calls on national government, local authorities, the voluntary sector and service providers to work together to ensure services are there to support carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. The report is accompanied by resources for carers, commissioners, providers and front line staff to use in the development of support for carers to plan for a future when they are less able or unable to care. (Edited publisher abstract)