Caring for Carers

Changes in the caring role
Traditionally caring for someone who is sick, disabled or elderly is a role which has been a part of family life for many generations. It could be argued though, that being a carer today has in many ways become more challenging than ever before. The reasons why the caring role has become more challenging are multiple:
Family structure has changed. The size of families has decreased and there are more one parent families around. Also employment and lifestyle opportunities available to people have changed. The Falklands is a good example where often at least one family member is living or working abroad. Furthermore, life style factors such as home ownership and mortgages mean that often both partners are the breadwinners within a family. People then have to consider their caring role while trying to balance constraints on their time, finances and other commitments. Often families find themselves in a situation where there are less people around to address the issue of what to do with a dependant relative when their care needs increase. When you consider the balance between increased expectations on people of working age and an increasingly ageing population there is a short fall in available care providers, the health and social services are often called on to fill gaps in care.
Health services and social services have sought to better their understanding of what is quality care for the sick, disabled and elderly, as a result people have higher expectations of the care they want for their relatives. Here in the Falklands there are many ways of providing care. Increasing the quality and range of care options available within the islands is an ongoing issue for the community.

Reviewing your role as carer

Recognise and accept that you may experience a full range of emotions towards your relative e.g. anger, sorrow, guilt, fear or shame. These are all normal responses although it can be quite a shock to realize that you feel an emotion which you had not anticipated.
Acknowledge the quality of relationship you have with the person you are caring for and accept that this will influence your feelings towards your role as carer.
Acknowledge your reasons for caring. Are you caring because you want to care, or have to care, or are you caring through a sense of duty ? Is there pressure from other family members ?
Know your limits. Accept the type of problems your relative is experiencing, decide what you can and can not deal with. Care needs will change over time and you may be faced with an extra demand which you don’t feel able to cope with. E.g. shopping, or cleaning might be okay for you, while dressing your relative or incontinence might be difficult for you to deal with.

Many of these factors can not be changed. Try to stand back and look at what your relatives care needs are, then work out how best you can provide care and what care you can provide without compromising your own wellbeing.

Looking after your own needs

Assess your own stress, identify what causes you most strain in your role as carer.
Look after yourself and accept that caring does not always have to be a 24 hour, 7 days per week, 12 months per year commitment.
Talk to others about your role as carer.
Ask for advice and help. Find out what care options are available for you and your relative. Professionals are not there to judge you, but to listen and learn from you how best to understand your needs and how best they can help you to provide care.

What help is available here in the Falklands
There are a range of health and social services available within the Falklands including information and advice, care needs assessment, financial assessment, housing assessment and mental health assessment. Respite care within the hospital plus a range of practical support services are also available. i.e. meals on wheels or home-help. Multi-disciplinary team reviews are another useful way of getting everyone involved in your relatives care together to help evaluate existing care and plan future care.

If you are a carer and if you are interested in finding out more about the services which are available please contact your GP, Karen Chenery, CPN on 28082, Rachel Hancox, District Nurse on 28083 or Social Services on 27296.

Further Information & Websites
Carers UK
20-25 Glasshouse Yard, London, EC1A 4JT
www.carersonline.org.uk

Crossroads Caring for Carers
10 Regent Place, Rugby, Warwickshire, CV21 2PN
www.crossroads.org.uk

MIND National Association for Mental Health
Granta House, 15-19 Broadway, London, E15 4BQ
www.mind.org.uk

Age Concern Scotland www.ageconcernscotland.org.uk
Age Concern England www.ageconcern.org.uk