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Caregiver

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See also: Carers rights movement

The words "carer" (UK, NZ, Australian usage) and "carergiver" (US usage) are normally used to refer to unpaid relatives or friends who support people with disabilities. The words may be prefixed with "Family" "Spousal" or "Child" to distinguish between different care situations. A paid worker is often referred to as a "care worker", "professional caregiver", "personal assistant" or "care assistant", but there is a considerable degree of variation and overlap in everyday and professional usage and words such as "caretaker" are also sometimes used as synonyms.

Terms such as "Voluntary caregiver" and "Informal carer" are also used occasionally, but these terms have been criticized by carers as misnomers because they are perceived as belittling the huge impact that caring may have on an individual's life, the lack of realistic alternatives, and the degree of perceived duty of care felt by many relatives.

A widely-accepted definition of a carer/caregiver is:

“Someone whose life is in some way restricted by the need to be responsible for the care of someone who is mentally ill, mentally handicapped, physically disabled or whose health is impaired by sickness or old age.”
Baroness_Pitkeathley (1989) It's my Duty Isn't it? London: Souvenir Press.

More recently, Carers UK defines carers as people who "provide unpaid care by looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member, friend or partner".

Around half of all carers are effectively excluded from paid employment through the heavy demands and responsibilities of caring for a vulnerable relative or friend. Their work has huge economic and social impact.

With an increasingly aging population in all developed societies, the role of carer has been increasingly recognized as an important one, both functionally and economically. Many organizations which provide support for persons with disabilities have developed various forms of support for carers as well.

International organizations

On February 27, 2004, the International Alliance of Carers Organizations (IACO) was launched by family caregiving organizations from Australia, the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands, and the U.S. The mission of the organization is three-fold:

  • to increase visibility of family caregiving across the lifespan as an international issue;
  • to promote the sharing of best practices in caregiving programs between countries; and
  • to encourage and provide assistance to countries interested in developing family carer organizations.

IACO is headquartered in London. Initial IACO projects included promotion of a United Nations Day for Carers and a presentation on the IACO as part of a half-day workshop at the International Federation on Aging conference in Singapore on August 4, 2004. National family carer organizations in all countries are encouraged to join the alliance.

Carers in Europe

EUROFAMCARE aims to provide a European review of the situation of family carers of elderly people in relation to the existence, familiarity, availability,use and acceptability of supporting services. In 2003 six countries (Germany, Greece, Italy, Poland, Sweden, United Kingdom) formed a trans-European group, systematically representing the different types of welfare-states in Europe and started a comparative study. The Pan-European Group consists of 23 countries (including the six countries, which are represented by the members of the Consortium).

The last step is a feedback research action phase based both on the study results and on the pan-European expertise. A European Carers’ Charter in progress will be further developed by the new European network organization EUROCARERS in order to stimulate further activities both on national and European policy levels. [1]

EUROCARERS was formally launched in June 2007 to provide a united voice at European level and influence policy both nationally and within the European Union. Eurocarers currently comprises representatives of 18 organisations and research bodies from nine countries. Members have come together to influence policy within the European Institutions to ensure that the invaluable contribution of carers is recognised across Europe. [2]

Carers in the UK

According to Carers UK, and based on the 2001 census around six million people in the UK provide care on an unpaid basis for a relative, friend or neighbour in need of support due to old age, disability, frailty or illness. The population of carers is dynamic: at least a third of all people will fulfil a caring role at some point in their lives.

Research has shown that becoming a carer can have many impacts on a person's life. These include financial costs, exclusion and discrimination at work, social isolation and poor health through stress and physical injury.

At least half of all carers are in full or part time employment and some care for more than one person. Carers save the UK economy an estimated £87bn a year, [3] and economic considerations form a key element in government policy to support carers.

National organizations

References and additional reading

Jean Griswold

Books

  • Into The Silence: The Power of Stillness in Living and Dying. Judith M. Ashley 194 pp. ISBN:978-0-595-44085-6 A Memoir. iUniverse, Inc. 2007
  • National Council for the Single Woman and Her Dependants, Roxane Arnold, and Olive Chandler. Feminine Singular: Triumphs and Tribulations of the Single Woman: An Anthology. London: Femina Books, 1974.
  • J. Agate, Taking Care of Old People at Home, Unwin Paperbacks, London, 1979, 61.50, 159 pp. ISBN o 04 970004 9.
  • T. Dartington, Family Care of Old People, Souvenir Press (E & A)Ltd., London, 1980, 23.95, 159 pp. ISBN o 285 64885 3.
  • J. A. Muir Gray and Heather McKenzie, Take Care of Your Elderly Relative, George Allen and Unwin, London, 1980, g5.95, 202 pp. ISBN o 04 6180168.
  • Taking Care of Barbara: A Journey Through Life and Alzheimer's and 29 Insights for Caregivers, Bonnie Campbell McGovern
  • The Caregiver’s Tale: Loss and Renewal in Memoirs of Family Life, Ann Burack-Weissi
  • Caregiver Daily Journal By Sylvia Barron Baca
  • When The Man You Love Is Ill, Dr. Dorree Lynn
  • A Caregivers Journey-You Are Not Alone, Linda S. Thompson
  • Alzheimer's Care with Dignity, Frank A. Fuerst, Headline Books, 2007
  • The Selfish Pig's Guide to Caring, Hugh Marriott, ISBN 09544233-1-3 [4]
  • The History of the Carers' Movement, Tim Cook, ISBN 978-873747-36-0 Carers UK, 2007
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