Carers are non-professionals who provide help and support to people who are sick, infirm or disabled (Reference Singleton, Maung and CowieSingleton et al, 2002). The role of the carer is especially important when the person who receives care (the care recipient) is unable to live independently without the carer’s help. A young carer is a child or young person under the age of 18, carrying out significant caring tasks and assuming a level of responsibility for another person that normally would be undertaken by an adult.
Underpinning the caring role may be life-long love and friendship, together with an acceptance of the duty to provide care. Carers can derive satisfaction and a sense of well-being from their caring role, receive love and affection from the care recipient, gain a sense of achievement from developing personal attributes of patience and tolerance, and gain satisfaction from meeting cultural or religious expectations (Cassell et al, 2003).
Caring responsibilities may arise at any time in life. Carers may have to adapt and change their daily routine for work and social life, perhaps incurring personal and financial costs. They may become isolated from other members of their family, friends and work colleagues. In an ageing population, family members are expected to undertake complex care tasks, often at great cost to their own well-being and health (Reference Schulz and MatireSchulz & Matire, 2004).
Communication with others may become frustrating, especially when a carer perceives comments and advice to be overly optimistic or to lack a realistic understanding of the situation. Carers may have too much or too little information about the condition of the care recipient. They may take on sole responsibility for caring, to the exclusion of their other roles, leading to lasting effects on relationships with family and friends.
The role of carer can be demanding and difficult, irrespective of whether the care recipient has a mental disorder, learning disability or a physical disability, either separately or combined. This article aims to raise awareness of carers’ health needs and suggests ways to meet them.
Characteristics of carers
In the UK 2001 census (Office for National Statistics, 2003), it was found that 5.8 million carers provide care for people with physical and mental disorders, mostly in their own homes (Box 1). Of these, 1.25 million provide care for over 50 h a week. There are 175 000 young carers aged under 18. The peak age for carers is between the fifth and seventh decades (Reference TraversTravers, 1996).
Box 1 Mental health of carers: report of the Office for National Statistics (Reference Singleton, Maung and CowieSingleton et al, 2002)
| Care recipients | 67% had only physical disabilities |
| 19% had both mental and physical disabilities | |
| 7% had only mental health problems | |
| 68% were women | |
| 35% were aged 75–84 years | |
| 17% were aged 65–74 years | |
| 4% were less than 16 years old | |
| Carers | 61% were women |
| 49% were aged 45–64 years | |
| 19% were more than 65 years old | |
| 8% were less than 30 years old | |
| Time spent caring | 66% spent <20 h per week |
| 10% spent 50–90 h per week | |
| 7% spent >100 h per week | |
| Duties | 30% provided personal care (e.g. washing, dressing) and physical assistance (e.g. help to walk or climb stairs) |
| Household | 28% of carers lived in same household as the care recipient |
| 29% of carers were a sole carer | |
| 9% were joint main carers | |
| Health of carers | 42% rated their health as good |
| 30% rated their health as fair or poor | |
| 49% had a long-standing physical health problem | |
| 21% had health problems that had restricted their activities in the previous 2 weeks | |
| Mental health | 13% had consulted a GP in the past year for anxiety, depression or emotional problems |
| Sole carers and joint main carers had a greater risk of mental health problems | |
| Carers with fewer than eight adults in their primary support group had more mental health problems | |
| 71% said that their caring responsibilities made them feel worried | |
| 32% said that caring had made them feel depressed | |
| 11% felt tired a lot of the time |
An estimated 40–50% of all carers provide care for another family member or friend with a mental health problem. Of these, about 11% care for people with dementia, 14% for people with learning disabilities or an autistic-spectrum disorder, 7% care for people with psychosis, schizophrenia or depression, and 8% for those with both mental and physical illness or disabilities (Reference Keeley and ClarkeKeeley & Clarke, 2002).
On average, carers provide care for 4 years, with 40% providing care for less than a year and 25% for more than 10 years. Although a carer may relinquish day-to-day responsibilities for a person living in an institution, they may continue to provide long-term emotional and financial support.
A carer’s job description would be unlikely to attract many applicants (Box 2).
Box 2 Job description for a carer
Essential personal attributes
Patience, tolerance, endurance, perseverance, inner strength, sense of humour and ability to communicate at all levels
Ideal candidates will have skills and experience in:
Nursing, counselling, physiotherapy, chiropody, dietetics, cooking, housekeeping, hairdressing, accountancy, gardening, DIY and driving
Hours
You must be prepared to be on-call 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year
Holidays and services
Only if you are very lucky and your local area provides respite care. No Bank Holidays allowed; instead you may have to work extra without pay
Salary
Probably nothing, but may be up to £2400 a year, provided that strict conditions are fulfilled and a long and complicated form is completed
Other terms and conditions
No sick pay or time off and no union representation
Application
No need to apply, as you will become a carer when a member of your family or a friend needs your help
Impact of caring on carers’ health
Views of carers about their health
A survey of over 1000 carers in contact with carers’ organisations found that just less than 50% believed that their health was adversely affected by their caring role (Reference CheffingsCheffings, 2003). Mental health problems included stress and tension (38%), anxiety (27%) and depression (28%). Physical health problems included back injury (20%) and hypertension (10%). Back injury was associated with caring for individuals with physical disabilities. Similar figures were found in a survey by Carers UK (2002), in which the most frequently experienced negative emotions in carers were: feelings of being mentally and emotionally drained (70%), physically drained (61%), frustration (61%), sadness for the care recipient (56%), anger (41%), loneliness (46%), guilt (38%) and disturbed sleep (57%).
Research on the mental health of carers
A New Zealand study found that carers and non-carers did not differ on measures of depression or subjective measurements of health (Reference Knight, Williams and McGeeKnight et al, 1998). In the UK, Reference Livingston, Manela and KatonaLivingston et al(1996) found that being a carer of an older person was not by itself a risk factor for a psychiatric illness or psychological symptoms. They also noted that there was also an increase in psychiatric morbidity in carers of individuals with psychiatric disorders compared with carers of people with physical disoders, which was partly attributed to a lack of a confiding relationship.
In a survey by Reference Singleton, Maung and CowieSingleton et al(2002), almost two-thirds of carers had more than eight family members or friends to whom they felt close and these carers were less likely to have mental health problems (13%) than carers in smaller social groups, of whom 26% reported mental health problems.
In a study by Reference Knight, Williams and McGeeKnight et al(1998) higher ‘burden of care’ scores were predicted by co-residence, low satisfaction with social support and poorer health ratings on the part of the carers, but not by the quality of the relationship between the person cared for and the carer. Carers found employment outside their home to be beneficial to their general well-being.
Carers who are more vulnerable to health problems are women, elderly or very young people, those with pre-existing poor physical health, carers with arduous duties and those with few social contacts or support. Carers may attribute symptoms of an illness to their work as a carer and fail to recognise the onset of an illness.
Physical health of carers
The physical health of carers has been shown to be adversely affected, with increased rates of hypertension (Reference King, Oka and YoungKing et al, 1994), lower immune response (Reference Kiecolt-Glaser, Dura and SpeicherKiecolt-Glaser et al, 1991), altered response to influenza vaccination (Reference Kiecolt-Glaser, Glaser and GravensteinKiecolt-Glaser et al, 1996) and slowing of response to wound healing (Reference Kiecolt-Glaser, Marucha and MalarkyKiecolt-Glaser et al, 1995).
In the USA, Reference Sunmin Lee, Golditz and BerkmanSunmin Lee et al(2003) found that caring for 9 h per week was associated with twice the risk of coronary heart disease in female carers. Reference Schulz and BeachSchulz & Beach (1999) reported that elderly carers living with the care recipient, who also experience psychological strain associated with being a carer, are more likely to die within 4 years than elderly non-carers (relative risk 1.63, 95% CI 1.00–2.65). They recommend that older married couples should be evaluated as a unit and that consideration should be given to providing institutional care when necessary. Other studies found that the presence of depressive symptoms was not a significant predictor of poor physical health in carers (Reference O'Rourke, Cappeliez and GuidonO’Rourke et al, 2003) but led to increased use of services (Reference Bookwala, Sdaniuk and BurtonBookwala et al, 2004).
Emotional well-being of carers
At any stage of the caring role, carers can feel trapped, resentful, angry or upset and excluded from society. During the early stages of a care recipient’s illness, carers often grieve over the loss of the ‘person they knew’ or ‘what might have been’ and the loss of mutual support and reciprocity in their relationship with the care recipient.
Carers cope better if they have long-standing love and affection for the care recipient at the onset of caring. Carers who have the ability to accept their situation and solve problems are better able to adjust to their change in role and level of responsibility.
Characteristics of care recipient
The nature of the care recipient’s disorder or disability can make the carer feel stigmatised. In an Australian study of older carers, one-third were unable to leave the care recipient alone and 20% of all carers were too embarrassed to ask for help (Reference O'Connell, Bailey and WalkerO’Connell et al, 2003).
Care recipients with mental disorders
The effect of a mental illness or disorder on families has been described by Reference Perring, Twigg and AtkinPerring et al(1992). Families coping with a relative with a mental illness have most difficulty dealing with behaviour such as social withdrawal, restlessness and pacing, frequent demands, nocturnal disturbances, bizarre or unusual behaviour and suicide attempts. It is difficult for carers to cope with fluctuations in the course of a mental illness or disorder. There may be increased complexity in the interactions between care recipients and their carers, leading to marital discord and family conflict. Younger children are especially vulnerable to family disturbances and the effects of these on carer and care recipient. Some children become carers themselves, experiencing disruption to their lives and education.
Carers tend to worry most about the risk of suicide if they leave the care recipient alone and what will happen to their dependent care recipient when they are no longer able to provide care.
About 65% of carers of individuals with mental disorders report that they receive no support whatsoever (Reference Keeley and ClarkeKeeley & Clarke, 2002). The factors affecting whether a carer will seek help include the manifestations of the illness or disorder, availability of information, how long it will take to obtain treatment and perceived standards of mental health services. If carers experience a high burden of care, this can adversely affect the care recipient’s mental health, through poor adherence to medication regimens (Reference Perlick, Rosenheck and ClarkinPerlick et al, 2004).
The age of the care recipient may affect a carer’s reaction to the care role. In a study by Reference Livingston, Manela and KatonaLivingston et al(1996), carers of older people with mental disorders were found to be more likely to be depressed (47%), particularly women caring for someone with dementia. A meta-analysis of 84 studies of the health of carers of older people found that, compared with non-carers, carers had higher levels of stress and depression and lower levels of subjective well-being, physical health and self-efficacy, especially those caring for a relative with dementia (Reference Pinquart and SorensenPinquart & Sorensen, 2004).
In male carers of spouses with dementia, physical health symptoms were increased by one-third during the care period, compared with the periods before and after care provision (Shanks-McElroy & Reference Shanks-McElroy and StrobinoStrobino, 2001). After care provision ends, the physical health of former carers of people with dementia has been shown to improve and they visit the doctor more frequently to attend to their own physical health needs (Reference GraselGrasel, 2002).
Care recipients with physical disorders
The caring role can be especially demanding when the care recipient has a physical disorder with a high burden of care or a reduced life expectancy, for example following a cerebrovascular accident or during the course of an illness due to cancer.
Research has shown that families of patients receiving palliative care are often profoundly affected psychologically by a care recipient’s illness, with feelings of shame, guilt and regret, thus becoming ‘hidden patients’ themselves (Reference Kristjanson and AounKristjanson & Aoun, 2004). Cancer patients have multifaceted needs. So physicians, oncologists and other healthcare professionals such as psychiatrists should be aware of the demands made on carers of patients with cancer, especially elderly carers (Reference Kurtz, Kurtz and GivenKurtz et al, 2004). It is advisable to offer carers a periodic assessment of their needs and concerns, together with a review of the patient’s trajectory of illness, to ensure that carers are able to continue to provide care.
During the course of a terminal illness, carers may reflect on their own personal values and change their perspectives on what is important in life. The process of grieving may begin long before the care recipient’s death and may compound a carer’s difficulties, especially if they become depressed or anxious, or develop physical symptoms such as insomnia or poor appetite. Psychiatrists should bear in mind that grief might occur in anticipation and take this into consideration when planning psychiatric treatment for a carer.
Carers of victims of cerebrovascular accidents have been shown to be more at risk of burnout if the care recipient has severe cognitive, behavioural and emotional changes (Reference Van den Heuvel, de Witte and Schurevan den Heuvel et al, 2001). Depression in the carers of stroke survivors is also more likely if carers have lower life satisfaction and lower physical functioning and lack tangible social support (Reference Grant, Bartolucci and ElliotGrant et al, 2000). Improving a carer’s skills during rehabilitation of in-patients following strokes reduces the economic cost of care and improves carers’ quality of life (Reference Patel, Knapp and EvansPatel et al, 2004).
Burden of care
There are many practical issues that may distress carers (Box 3). A survey by the Princess Royal Trust for Carers (Reference CheffingsCheffings, 2003) showed that the most stress and anxiety was caused by being woken at night and by verbal and or physical abuse. Constant watchfulness affects the quality of sleep and carers who are frequently disturbed at night will eventually become light sleepers (Reference Cassells, Geront and WattCassells et al, 2003).
Box 3 Practical issues that can distress carers
The care recipient’s behaviour
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• Social withdrawal
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• Restlessness
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• Pacing
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• Bizarre behaviour
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• Neglect of personal care and hygiene
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• Awake at night and asleep all day
Care duties
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• The frequent demands made
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• Incontinence of urine, faeces or both
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• Lack of laundry facilities
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• Insufficient supply of linen/bedding
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• Attendance at medical out-patient appointments
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• Domestic chores, gardening, providing transport and preparing meals
The carer’s fears and worries
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• Self-harm or suicide by the care recipient
-
• Death of care recipient
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• Change of role in the relationship between carer and care recipient
-
• Loss of a confiding relationship
-
• Loss of a sexual relationship
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• Deterioration in carer’s own health
-
• Being excluded from information-sharing
Whatever the nature of the disorder or the age of the care recipient, incontinence can cause social and practical difficulties. A carer may feel embarrassed or be unable to provide personal care. It is recommended that carers are provided at an early stage with advice and support from a specialist nurse on the management of incontinence. The combination of faecal and urinary incontinence often leads the carer to seek institutional care for the care recipient (Reference Cassells, Geront and WattCassells et al, 2003).
In couples, deterioration in the care recipient’s health can end their sexual relationship with the carer. The carer may be unable to confide in anyone, yet miss this aspect of life. Although healthcare professionals have a role in assisting patients with sex-related problems, many professionals continue to avoid the topic of sexual relationships and sexual health (Reference EvansEvans, 2000). Carers who wish to find a partner say they feel constrained by their caring role, fearing that it will be a barrier to a new relationship.
Social and cultural factors
It is important to understand how social and cultural beliefs can affect a carer’s role, attitudes and readiness to accept help from professionals. Reporting on a study conducted in Hong Kong, Reference WongWong (2000) describes the cultural issues experienced by carers who hold traditional Chinese values and beliefs that affect their family expectations and obligations. These include the ‘Confucian work ethic’, the tendency for external attribution of blame and the need to deal with these issues by ‘face-saving’. Careful consideration should be given to understanding the expectations of people from other areas and cultures.
Some carers enjoy and value recreation and social activities away from their care recipients. Others derive comfort from the support of people from their religious or social group. In a study in the USA (Reference LeBlanc, Driscoll and PearlinLeBlanc et al, 2004), religious belief was found to be more common in female carers and those from ethnic minority groups and was mostly unrelated to carers’ stress.
Relationship between carers, professionals and patients
Carers should be seen by professionals as partners in promoting the care of service users (Reference Hervey and RamsayHervey & Ramsay, 2004). However, carers do not always want to be recognised as such or to receive help from professionals, although this attitude can alter when the health of the care recipient deteriorates or the carer’s circumstances change. Most healthcare professionals involved in clinical care meet carers, either as their patients or as their patients’ relatives or friends. Yet often carers’ needs are poorly recognised by professionals and by care recipients (Reference Kersten, McLellan and GeorgeKersten et al, 2001). Carers can feel undervalued by healthcare professionals and tend to rely on friends and family for support (Reference Pinfold and CorryPinfold & Corry, 2003). Many carers want to be included by healthcare professionals and to receive information about the care recipient’s condition and treatment. However, the care recipient may want the carer to be excluded from contact with health professionals.
Carers realise that information is available but is not being provided to them. They are aware that professionals must maintain their patients’ confidentiality, but perceive this to be frustrating and unhelpful. Feelings of anger and resentment about the illness or disorder can focus on issues of confidentiality. Similarly, a carer may wish to confide in the clinical team, without the patient’s knowledge, and want the information given to be confidential.
Information on patient confidentiality is available from the General Medical Council (2004) and the Royal College of Psychiatrists (2006). The College has also published a booklet specifically addressing issues of confidentiality involving carers of people with mental illnesses (Royal College of Psychiatrists, 2004). This contains useful advice, including negotiating with the patient to share less sensitive information and the provision of general information on, for example, the side-effects of medication and where to find help in a crisis. The information needed by a carer will vary with the type and stage of the patient’s illness. Carers often find that they relate to one member of the multiprofessional team better than others.
Services for carers
Government policy in England and Wales
It is estimated that informal carers save the government £57 billion a year, which is the cost of providing equivalent professional care (Carers UK, 2002). Legislation and government policies implemented in 2004 and 2005 (Box 4) have improved resources for carers’ support by £5 million (Department of Health, 2004). The NHS Plan (Department of Health, 2000) set a national target of employing 700 carers’ support workers before 2005, but this has not yet been fully implemented (Department of Health, 2004). Although people may not want to be recognised or labelled as carers, openly acknowledging their role can help them to gain access to support and services.
Box 4 Legislation and government policies in England and Wales with implications for carers
1995: The Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
Local authorities should provide carers with an assessment of their needs, if requested to do so, when the person that they care for is receiving an assessment of their own needs or being reassessed
1998: The Compact on Relations between Government and the Voluntary and Community Sector in England ( http://www.thecompact.org.uk/ )
Government code of good practice for work with the voluntary and community sector
1999: The National Strategy for Carers (Department of Health, 1999a)
Contains eight sections on the needs of carers, including a section dedicated to young carers
1999: Standard 6 of the National Service Framework for Mental Health (Department of Health, 1999b)
States the rights of carers to have their own care plan and annual assessment of needs
2000: The Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000
Gives family carers who provide regular and substantial care, the right to have an assessment of their needs, irrespective of whether or not the person being cared for is being assessed. It gives local authorities the powers to provide carers with services in their own right for the first time.
2001: The Health and Social Care Act 2001 (Section 11)
It is a requirement for strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and national health service trusts to involve and consult patients and the public about carers’ issues
2002: The National Health Service Reform and Health Care Professions Act 2002
The Commission for Patient and Public Involvement in Health has the remit to set up forums for patients and carers for Independent Complaints and Advocacy Services
2003: The Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003
Gives carers the right to have their own assessment and to request a home visit to assess what aids and services are required before the care recipient can be discharged from hospital. It provides the opportunity to have free services (e.g. domiciliary and personal care) for 6 weeks
2004: The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004
Places a duty on local authorities to inform carers of their right to an assessment and to consider the carers’ needs and wishes to combine caring with paid work, their opportunities for leisure and for life-long learning. It requires other local authority agencies to work with adult social care services to provide carers’ services. There is a separate requirement for local health services to cooperate with local authorities in providing support to carers. Consequently other departments of the local authority, primary care trusts and local NHS healthcare trusts can be asked to provide services for carers and must respond to the requests
2005: The Mental Capacity Act 2005 (Due to come into force in 2007)
This amends the court of protection and power of attorney systems and sets guidelines for individuals with limited mental capacity to do as much as they can within their capability and periodically to allow others to make decisions on a limited range of issues on their behalf
Mental health services
The government in England commissioned the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York to evaluate current research on the effectiveness of the interventions for carers of people with dementia or mental illness. It has also recognised that further research is needed to evaluate the benefits of carers’ breaks, support, and education and training programmes (Department of Health, 2004). Engagement of carers at the first episode of illness, or as soon as possible afterwards, is considered to be beneficial in improving the long-term prospects of those involved (Reference Goldstein, Rodnick and EvansGoldstein et al, 1978). The British Medical Association (2003) has produced guidance on good practice for professionals working with carers.
Standard six of the National Service Framework for Mental Health (Department of Health, 1999b ) relates specifically to the needs of carers, and it states that:
‘All individuals who provide regular and substantial care for a person on CPA [the care programme approach] should:
-
• have an assessment of their caring, physical and mental health needs, repeated on at least an annual basis
-
• have their own written care plan which is given to them and implemented in discussion with them’ (Department of Health, 1999b : p. 69).
It is implied that carers should have their own keyworkers. However, this is not always possible or acceptable. An alternative would be to refer carers to the voluntary sector for support and encouragement. The unavailability of a keyworker for a carer should not prevent that carer from having an annual carers’ assessment and a written care plan (Box 5).
Box 5 Example of a care plan for a carer
Information for carer
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• Obtain information on what a carer needs to be able to undertake their care duties
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• Provide information on how to get help in a crisis
-
• Provide information on how to deal with particular situations
-
• Provide information on where to obtain advice on financial and social matters
Plan
-
• Define what is required to meet the carer’s needs
-
• State how these needs will be met
-
• Record unmet need and attempts to remedy any unmet need
Support
-
• Provide information on where to get support from carers’ groups or other organisations
-
• Plan and obtain respite or short breaks
-
• Provide information about complaints procedures
(Adapted from Carers Advisory Group, 2001)
In mental health services, if a carer has a care plan this should be recorded in the care recipient’s clinical record and, if the carer agrees, the care plan can be sent to the carer’s GP.
Carers may need extra support at times of transition in their lives or when the care recipient moves to another stage of care, perhaps a hospital or long-stay facility. Many carers feel guilty and ashamed that they can no longer cope, but others are relieved that the burden of care will lessen. Carers themselves may gradually become physically or mentally ill and need advice to attend their general practitioner (GP).
Psychiatrists should be aware of carers’ health and well-being and ask their patients whether they are carers and whether they need additional support. Letters to and from mental health professionals to GPs should state whether the patient is a carer of another adult or child.
Primary care services
One in ten adult patients registered with a GP will be a carer (Office for National Statistics, 2003). Their own GP is often the first health professional with whom carers will have contact. Primary care staff are in an excellent position to identify and meet the healthcare needs of carers, especially carers who support someone with a mental illness, children who are carers, carers from Black and minority ethnic groups and carers in rural areas (Reference HareHare, 2004). Various systems can be used to compile a register of carers.
Primary care staff should ask carers about their health, provide relevant information and, when appropriate, make arrangements for them to receive healthcare from a member of the practice team such as a GP, nurse or counsellor. The recently revised General Medical Services contract for GPs provides financial rewards for the identification of carers and for directing them to local adult social care departments. Steps should be taken to protect carers’ health by preventive measures such as vaccination for influenza and screening for hypertension, depression and other illnesses.
Finance
Good financial information and advice are crucial for both carers and care recipients, to enable them to make informed decisions about future long-term care and the purchasing of other services.
A care recipient under retirement age may be entitled to claim Disability Living Allowance for care at low, medium or high levels and for mobility at low or high levels. Care recipients over retirement age can claim an Attendance Allowance at either a ‘day rate’ or a ‘day and night’ rate. The care recipient makes the claim for either allowance and the benefits are paid directly to them. These benefits are not means tested and the amount awarded varies according to the level of the disability.
If the care recipient receives one of these allowances, then the carer may be able to claim state benefits as follows. Carers’ Allowance may be claimed by a carer who provides care for one person for >35 hours per week, provided that the care recipient receives either a Disability Living Allowance for care at medium or high levels, or an Attendance Allowance. Carers above retirement age are entitled to claim either a Carer’s Allowance or a pension.
Information on UK state benefits and eligibility criteria is available from the Department of Work and Pensions (website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk), the UK government’s website Directgov (http://www.direct.gov.uk/Homepage) and the Department of Work and Pensions’ Disability Carers’ Service and Benefit Enquiry Line (tel.: 0800 88 22 00).
Charitable and benevolent funds may have designated monies to assist certain categories of beneficiary.
Legal
Carers worry about whether they will lose their home and may not know how to manage practical issues if the care recipient loses their mental capacity. It might be appropriate for those involved to seek legal advice and consider whether it is timely for the care recipient and the carer to review their wills. The Mental Capacity Act 2005, covering England and Wales, does not come into force until 2007 (Box 4). However, the Department of Health in England has published useful guidance on consent and mental capacity issues (Department of Health, 2001a , b ,c). Healthcare professionals should consider giving the care recipient the opportunity to make an advance directive, 1 which could reduce the strain on both carer and care recipient.
Training for carers
Carers may need training in practical procedures such as wound care, catheter management, and lifting and handling techniques. Carers of people with mental disorders may need training to recognise early signs of relapse and to reduce expressed emotion. The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (now the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NICE) recommends the use of behavioural family therapy to help people with schizophrenia (National Institute of Clinical Excellence, 2002). More carers are being trained in techniques to cope with challenging behaviour. In 2004, City and Guilds, a provider of vocational qualifications in the UK, launched an e-learning course on personal development and learning for unpaid carers (go to http://www.cityandguilds.com/ and follow the links for Learners, then Learning for Living).
The European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness (EUFAMI) has developed training packages in 12 European languages for carers and care recipients, to work with professionals to improve coping and communication skills, citizenship and the relationship between care recipients, families and professionals (http://www.eufami.org/prospect/en).
Physical healthcare of care recipients
Often carers are responsible for ensuring that care recipients receive adequate physical healthcare. It can be stressful and tiring for carers to attend appointments with care recipients. There may be problems with public transport, inconvenient appointment times, long waiting times and the healthcare professional may not be willing to speak to the carer. Carers often do not realise that their own GP or the care recipient’s keyworker may be able to assist them.
Voluntary-sector support for carers
In the UK, several organisations in both the state and voluntary sectors support and educate carers of people with physical and mental disorders. Some voluntary-sector organisations (such as the Princess Royal Trust for Carers, Carers UK and Crossroads – Caring for Carers) focus primarily on lobbying for carers’ rights and the provision of services for carers. The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has a network of 130 carers’ centres throughout the UK. They provide local services and support to carers that are carer led and carer determined. These include information, emotional support, education, training, and opportunities for recreation and social activities. They also enable carers’ views to be heard and recognised.
Other voluntary organisations focus mainly on the needs of individuals with certain conditions, on research or on providing information and support for patients, but many of these also have an interest in carers. These include organisations such as Rethink (formerly the National Schizophrenia Fellowship), the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities and the Alzheimer’s Society, which have informative websites (Box 6). Rethink has over 400 community services in England and Northern Ireland, with sister charities in Wales and Scotland. It publishes several booklets and provides services targeted at the carers of people with mental health difficulties. Healthcare professionals should have a list of contact details and information on the voluntary-sector organisations to give to carers.
Box 6 Useful sources of help and information
| Web addresses | |
| • Age Concern | http://www.ageconcern.org |
| • Alzheimer’s Disease International | http://www.alz.co.uk |
| • Alzheimer’s Society | http://www.alzheimers.org.uk |
| • Alzheimer Scotland – Acting on Dementia | http://www.alzscot.org |
| • Carers UK – The Voice of Carers | http://www.carersuk.org |
| • Crossroads – Caring for Carers | http://www.crossroads.org.uk |
| http://www.crossroads-scotland.co.uk | |
| • Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities | http://www.learningdisabilities.org.uk |
| • Caring about Carers | http://www.carers.gov.uk |
| • Together | http://www.together-uk.org |
| • Mencap | http://www.mencap.org.uk |
| • Mental Health Alliance | http://www.mentalhealthalliance.org.uk |
| • Methodist Homes for the Aged | http://www.mha.org.uk |
| • Mental Health Foundation | http://www.mentalhealth.org.uk |
| • Mind | http://www.mind.org.uk |
| • National Institute for Mental Health in England (NIMHE) | http://www.nimhe.org.uk |
| • Princess Royal Trust for Carers | http://www.carers.org |
| • Youngcarers.net | http://www.youngcarers.net |
| • Partners in Care | http://www.partnersincare.co.uk |
| • Rethink | http://www.rethink.org |
| • Sane | http://www.sane.org.uk |
| • YoungMinds | http://www.youngminds.org.uk |
| Literature | |
| Reference Ramsay, Gerada and MarsRamsay et al(2002) Mental Illness. A Handbook for Carers | |
Partners in care
In 2004, the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers launched a joint campaign for carers entitled ‘Partners in Care’, which was designed to promote better relationships between carers and mental health professionals (http://www.partnersincare.co.uk/). Campaign leaflets intended for both audiences include three checklists of questions and useful tips on how to improve information-sharing during consultations between professionals, carers and patients.
Other leaflets inform carers of people with specific mental health problems and one, Carers and Confidentiality in Mental Health, discusses confidentiality and information-sharing. The leaflets are available from the campaign website (http://www.partnersincare.co.uk) or from dhart@rcpsych.ac.uk.
Conclusions
Attitudes to carers of people with mental disorders are gradually changing, but carers still have difficulty accessing and working with health professionals as ‘partners in care’. The health of carers is not sufficiently addressed and is often not taken into account at all. All healthcare professionals should focus more on the healthcare needs of carers to ensure that they are able to maintain their physical and mental health while undertaking their care duties and responsibilities. This article has endeavoured to outline ways in which carers can be supported in their work.
Declaration of interest
Irene Cormac and Peter Tihanyi are members of the Partners in Care campaign of the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers.
MCQs
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1 Carers of older people:
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a have better mental health if they have at least eight people in their social network
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b are less likely to be depressed if they are women
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c are more likely to have osteoarthritis than non-carers
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d consult their GP more often after the care role has ended
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e have a lower risk of hypertension than non-carers.
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2 Primary care services:
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a should offer carers information about local carers’ organisations
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b must provide each carer with an annual health check carried out by a practice nurse
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c must inform social services about carers’ needs
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d ensure that each carer obtains a ‘fitness to care’ certificate
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e ask patients for permission to give information about their health to the carer.
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3 The following statistics about carers have been published:
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a the largest group of carers care for people with learning disabilities
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b there are fewer than a million carers in the UK
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c lifelong affection for the care recipient is detrimental to the carer’s well-being
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d female carers tend to be more traumatised by the caring role
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e cultural beliefs do not affect carers’ readiness to accept assistance.
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4 As regards carers’ legislation and government policies in England and Wales:
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a the first Act of Parliament about carers was the Carers (Recognition and Services) Act 1995
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b the Mental Capacity Act 2005 amends the power of attorney system
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c the National Service Framework for Mental Health does not mention carers
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d the Carers and Disabled Children Act 2000 gives carers the right to an assessment of their own needs
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e the Community Care (Delayed Discharges etc.) Act 2003 makes carers responsible for paying for the care recipient’s personal care for 6 weeks.
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5 Care plans for carers:
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a should be renewed every 6 months
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b should provide information on where to obtain support from carers’ groups or organisations
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c need not be provided if the care recipient is under 16 years old
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d can only be drawn up by a social worker
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e should record unmet needs that have been identified but cannot be met.
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MCQ answers
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| a | T | a | T | a | T | a | T | a | F |
| b | F | b | F | b | F | b | T | b | T |
| c | F | c | F | c | F | c | F | c | F |
| d | T | d | F | d | F | d | T | d | F |
| e | F | e | T | e | F | e | F | e | T |
eLetters
No eLetters have been published for this article.