Caring costs Scotland’s carers dear!

Launched today (9 June 2008) as part of Carers Week 2008, new evidence highlights the negative effect that caring can have on the emotional and physical wellbeing of carers.

A large majority of carers admit to feeling ill, anxious or exhausted. A staggering 95% of carers said they regularly hide the fact that their health is suffering in order to continue with their caring responsibilities. Worryingly, one-fifth of these carers said they ignored feeling ill “all the time”. 

Almost 1 in 4 carers said they frequently felt unable to cope with day to day caring due to the physical and emotional stresses of their caring role.

Many carers report finding it difficult to access the healthcare advice and support services they need. More than 2 in 3 carers said that they had often been unable to find an opportunity to visit their GP about their own health concerns, due to time constraints and a general lack of flexibility to

leave the house to attend appointments.  Well over half said they had not had a chance to discuss their concerns about their mental or physical health with anyone. 

As part of a range of initiatives to improve the health and wellbeing of carers, Carers Scotland will launch Finding the Balance, Promoting Positive Health; a health resource guide for carers at the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 11 June 2008. Carers and politicians will join together to highlight the detrimental impact of caring and to encourage carers and healthcare services to have a greater awareness of carers’ health and wellbeing.

Pat Begley, Director of Carers Scotland said:

“Scotland’s 660,000 unpaid carers, ordinary people doing extraordinary things, daily contend with the harsh realities of caring for others, often at the cost of their own health. Healthcare practitioners need to be more aware of the support that carers require to sustain them in their caring role. Carers need to be offered the opportunities and resources to look after themselves as well their loved ones. 

“We hope that Finding the Balance, Promoting Positive Health will encourage all those involved in care-giving to take positive and practical steps to promote and safeguard their health and wellbeing.

“We hope too that the wealth of evidence will encourage healthcare practitioners to take positive action to the prevent ill health of unpaid carers. We hope that they will make Finding the Balance widely available to carers and encourage carers to have regular health checks."

Given the increasing number of carers and the contribution they make to sustaining the healthcare system in Scotland, ignoring their healthcare needs is simply storing up problems for the future. 

The launch of Carers Scotland’s health resource guide for carers, Finding the Balance: Promoting Positive Health, will be take place:

*    Date: 11 June 2008

*    Time: 5.30pm

*    Venue: Scottish Parliament, Committee Room 3 (sponsored by Alasdair Allan MSP)

Carers can order their free copy of Finding the Balance: Promoting Positive Health by downloading an order form here or by contacting Carers Scotland on 0141 221 9141.

This event is one of many taking place across Scotland as part of Carers Week. Carers can find out more about events in their area by visiting www.carersweek.org.

Further information:

• Fiona Collie, Policy & Parliamentary Affairs Manager T. 0141 221 9141 E. fiona.collie@carerscotland.org

• Patrick J Begley, Director T. 0141 221 9141 E. pat.begley@carerscotland.org

• Anne Conlin, Training & Development Manager T. 0141 221 9141 E. anne.conlin@carerscotland.org

Notes for Editors

1)   Carers Scotland

Carers give so much to society yet as a consequence of caring, they experience ill health, poverty and discrimination. Carers Scotland is an organisation of carers fighting to end this injustice and will not stop until people recognise the true value of carers’ contribution to society and carers get the practical, financial and emotional support they need.  Carers Scotland is here to improve carers’ lives. We fight for equality for carers. We want carers to have the same right as everyone else to an ordinary life – a fair level of income, access to support to protect their health and well

being and access to the world of work, leisure and education. We seek to empower carers. We want carers to be actively involved in the design, development and delivery of services. We want carers to be recognised and involved as key partners in the provision of health and social care

services. Carers Scotland achieves this by: campaigning for the changes that make a real difference for carers, providing information and advice to carers about their rights and how to get support, mobilising carers and supporters to influence decision-makers; gathering hard evidence

about what needs to change; and transforming the understanding of caring so that carers are valued and not discriminated against. Visit: www.carerscotland.org

2)   Carers in Scotland

There are 660,000 carers in Scotland, saving the Scottish economy £7.6 billion each year. 110,000 carers provide 50 hours of care or more each week often at great cost to their own health, finances and wellbeing. Every year 178,000 people become carers and it is estimated that by

2037, there will be more than 1 million carers in Scotland.

3)   Carers Week

Carers Week is now in its 14th year. Supported by MPs, celebrities, local stakeholders and thousands of carers across the UK, Carers Week aims to inform carers, often isolated and not in touch with professionals and support organisations, about the huge amount of practical help and

help that is available for those people who may be feeling isolated, exhausted or ill as a result of their caring responsibilities.

Carers Week 2008 is jointly organised by 10 national charities: Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Hospices, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Neurological Alliance, The Princess Royal Trust for Carers and WRVS.