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Too ill for caring: Health and wellbeing among older carers in Northern Ireland

Explore the health and wellbeing of older carers in Northern Ireland and the challenges they face. Learn about the impact on their physical and mental health, financial issues, and the importance of support. Discover ways to keep older carers healthy and connected.

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Too ill for caring: Health and wellbeing among older carers in Northern Ireland

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  1. Too ill for caring: Health and wellbeing among older carers in Northern Ireland #OlderCarersNI Wednesday 13 June 2018

  2. Paschal McKeown #OlderCarersNI Charity Director Age NI

  3. What We Do Inspire EnableSupport 11 3

  4. Staying well, feeling good We are living longer • 16% of the population are over 65 years old. • 2% of the population are over 85 years old. • By 2028 the older people population will be larger than the number of children in NI. • By 2041 almost one in four people will be aged 64 or over. • But healthy life expectancy is not increasing at the same rate.

  5. Carers • Over 15,000 people aged 70 years and over provide at least 35 hours of unpaid care every week. • Over 400 of carers are aged 90 years or older • 64% of carers are female in their 50s • Among the 65-74 years age group: 14% of men aged 75 years or over are carers, compared with 11% of women of that age. • A little bit of caring responsibility can have a positive impact on one’s; too much can be bad for one’s wellbeing and health.

  6. Equal access to services? • Cancer is more common in later life. • One third of all cancers are diagnosed in people aged 75+. • Studies show fewer diagnostic and staging procedures and less treatment is carried out with advancing age. • Evidence of ageist attitudes. • Implications for carers?

  7. Early interventionand support • Low awareness of increase risk as we get older • Ensuring treatment decisions for older people are based on need rather than age. • Improving early diagnosis for maximising chances for long-term survival. • Our cancer services must meet the needs of our ageing population. • Equal access to services and support for older carers and their loved ones

  8. Joan McEwan #OlderCarersNI Head of Policy and Public Affairs Marie Curie Northern Ireland

  9. Health status of older carers • 3x more likely to be in bad or very bad health • 2x more likely to worry about health

  10. Physical health impact • Existing serious health issues • Exacerbate symptoms of ageing • Self care suffers • More likely than others to expect further deterioration

  11. Mental health impact • Increased mental ill-health • Linked to hours of care University College London (2018). The emotional wellbeing of older carers

  12. Mental health impact contd • Living bereavement “You’re grieving by losing part of the person everyday.” • Social isolation “My life is on hold. I can’t make any plans. I can’t leave. I don’t have anyone to talk to.”

  13. Financial issues • Carers Allowance provides inadequate support • Carers having to cut back on food and heating • Carers with financial issues more likely to feel physical and mental impact of caring

  14. Impact of bereavement • Greater mental impact • Prolonged Grief Disorder • Funeral arrangements

  15. “Caring for a loved one at the end of their life can be both distressing and challenging. Carers often have to manage patients’ personal and practical care, their physical symptoms such as pain, and sometimes patient’s anxiety and depression, while dealing with their own feelings of loss” – Professor Gunn Grande, Professor of Palliative Care, University of Manchester

  16. Clare-Anne Magee #OlderCarersNI General Manager Carers NI

  17. State of older carers in NI 2018 findings • 18% of our respondents from NI were 65 yrs+ • 41% had been caring for 15 years or more • 23% had been caring for between 5-9 years • 81% were caring for over 70hrs per week • 74% were retired • 19% looked after more than one person • 81% were looking after someone aged 65yrs+

  18. Main issues from findings • Not getting right information or support • Worried about the future • Mental and physical health getting worse as a result of their caring role

  19. “I no longer have time to myself” “I feel frightened and alone. People come and go leaving leaflets – I could paper a room with them – but no relevant help or understanding of how I’m coping” “my husband’s condition has got much worse. I have to exist on very little sleep and can no longer attend church or hospital appointments. I have no family or friends who can help. I feel afraid” “where do I go to get help if I become ill and can’t look after them?” “I am now housebound with her 7 days a week”

  20. How do we keep older carers healthy and connected? • Health and care professionals identifying older carers • Access to the right information and support at the right time • More opportunities for older carers to come together • Ageing workforce supported by employers and the social care system

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