Carers ‘missing out on support’, says cancer charity

Macmillan research makes disturbing reading.

A major report on the nature of caring in Britian has been carried out by Macmillan Cancer Support and it highlights a disturbing level of lack of support for those who care indicating that up to half of carers polled experienced mental health problems

An Ipsos MORI survey of 386 carers for Macmillan Cancer Support suggests 49% have no support of any kind.

Just 5% have had a carers’ assessment by their local authority to see what assistance they could get.

Macmillan said the survey results showed how “unsupported” the 1.1m carers of people with cancer are.

As an organisation working across social care Equal and Diverse is very aware of the need for adequate support for those who care and these results are to say the least alarming and disturbing.

Worryingly, half (49%) surveyed receive no support whatsoever – either formally or informally – to help them look after their family member or friend with cancer. As well as emotional support, cancer carers administer medicine; cook and clean; and provide personal care.

This lack of support may explain why nearly half (46%) suffer with mental health problems such as stress, anxiety and depression, and one in eight (13%) say it’s causing physical health issues such as sleep and digestive problems. One in seven (15%) carers reported financial issues such as spending more on things like travel to hospital or giving up work.

One carer who has struggled with her caring role is Rebecca Guyott, 19, Essex. She says:

“I’d only just turned 18 when my mum was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2010. It was left to me and my sisters to look after her and as a carer I found it a big strain. At work I often had to leave the office because of the emotional stress. I’d get home and do all the cleaning, washing and cooking as mum could hardly stand, let alone do anything for herself. After just a week of this I slept so badly because of the worry and then could barely wake up the next morning to go into work and start all over again.

“Mum’s improved now and I’m hoping to return to college, but I still feel under pressure. I didn’t even know we could have been entitled to a Carer’s Assessment or benefits, it was never mentioned.”

The More than a million report identifies a number of key barriers to carers of people with cancer accessing vital support:

•Less than half (43%) surveyed identify with the term ‘carer’ – men even less so (just 35% compared with 48% of women) – which means they are less likely to seek help.

•Carers often don’t put their own needs first or think about what help they might need.

•Low awareness of the support available – from statutory services or other sources.

Ciarán Devane, Chief Executive of Macmillan Cancer Support, says:

“Our research shows how unsupported cancer carers really are in the UK. Carers want to look after their family or friend with cancer – but it is often at the expense of their own mental or physical health.

“Cancer is no longer necessarily a death sentence and this means there is a growing need for people to care for their family member or friend with cancer. Often this is long-term care. But carers need support to cope with the significant demands of their role.

“The statutory sector must increase awareness and uptake of Carers’ Assessments. Both health and social care professionals need to be signposting cancer carers for assessments.”

Dr Donald Macaskill

Source: Macmillan Cancer Support

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