OU Carers Group

The results of the first ever research survey  into the impacts on employers and employees of managing caring at a distance, an issue that affects millions of families, are published today (14 June 2011).

Launching the survey research report, ‘Caring at a Distance: bridging the gap’, Caroline Waters OBE, Chair of Employers for Carers and Director of People and Policy for BT Group said: “With our ageing population and workforce – and increasing mobility through employment – managing caring at a distance is clearly moving centre stage as a business issue. Findings from this groundbreaking research - conducted by Employers for Carers and Carers UK, in association with leading global investment bank, Nomura - have given us some new and unique insights into the impact of this increasingly important issue both on employees and on business.“ 

Key findings from the survey include:

1. Impact of caring on mental and emotional health – it is not just the physical aspect of caring that is important but also its effect on employees’ emotional health:

• Nearly half (43%) of respondents indicated that their work had been negatively affected by caring and that they felt tired, stressed and anxious.
• One in three (33%) were also worried that caring might have an impact on their capacity to work in the future.

2. Pressure on the ‘sandwich generation’ – a clear majority of employees needing support (60%) were age 40-54 and combining care for an older relative with other responsibilities including looking after their own children.

3. Accessing external sources of support  - this was the top priority for both employees and employers, including signposting to help at local and national level and practical assistance with caring.

4. Line manager support - while most employers offered support such as flexible working, only 17% provided training or support for line managers to support carers.

Charlotte Sweeney, Head of Diversity and Inclusion, EMEA, Nomura commented: “There is clearly much that employers need to do to support distance carers. However, what the report also highlights is that caring touches every aspect of our lives; it cannot be supported by only one party but demands an integrated response.”

Imelda Redmond CBE, Chief Executive of Carers UK added: “Supporting distance caring is about supporting 21st century families and 21st century workplaces.  As the report clearly shows, families and workplaces today are mobile – people don’t always live, or work, as close to each other as they used to. What we know is that caring can have a devastating impact on families’ lives, throwing many people into lasting poverty and ill health while employers also lose valued and skilled employees. The reality of life today is that working and caring at a distance is here to stay – caring is everybody’s business.”

Key recommendations from the report include:

1. Information about external sources of care and support which is clear and easy to navigate must be provided at national and local level.
2. Better promotion of supportive technologies is needed to help both the person who is being cared for and the distance carer.
3. More practical support for line managers in the workplace to help bridge the gap between policy and practice.

- ENDS - 14.06.11

1. The full report, Caring at a Distance: bridging the gap, is available from Employers for Carers www.employersforcarers.org employers@carersuk.org and arises from the first ever research survey undertaken of employers and employees on this topic.

It can also be found at http://www.carersuk.org/professionals/

The online survey was conducted during April and May 2011 by the Employers for Carers forum (which is administered and supported by the charity Carers UK) in association with leading global investment bank, Nomura.  52 employer organisations from the private, public, voluntary and community sectors and 982 individuals who were managing caring at a distance took part.

2. ‘Managing caring at a distance’ refers to supporting/caring unpaid for an ill, frail or disabled relative, partner or friend who may be living in another part of the town, region, country or the world.

3.  Employers for Carers is a membership forum of employers committed to working carers, chaired by BT and supported by the specialist knowledge of Carers UK. With over 50 member organisations representing a million employees from the private and public sectors, its key purpose is to provide practical advice and assistance to employers seeking to support and retain the 1 in 7 carers in their workforce.

It has longstanding experience of working with employers such as BT, Centrica, the Metropolitan Police, PricewaterhouseCoopers and the NHS, to support carers wishing to remain in or return to work. For more details about Employers for Carers, how to join and what services are available please visit www.employersforcarers.org, email employers@carersuk.org or telephone 020 7378 4956.

4. Carers UK is a charity set up to support the millions of people who care for an elderly relative, a sick friend or a disabled family member. Carers UK:

• supports carers and provides information and advice about caring
• influences policy through our research based on carers’ real life experiences
• campaigns to make life better for carers.

5. Background – key facts:

Within the UK:

• 3 million people juggle paid work with unpaid caring responsibilities – 1 in 7 people in any workplace – and this number is set to increase by half as much again in the next 25 years.
• 90% of working carers are aged 30 plus (in their prime employment years) and the peak age for caring is 45-64 when many employees will have gained valuable skills and experience.
• 1 in 6 people give up work to care – a real loss both to employers and families.

Globally:

• There are 125 million informal carers in Europe. 41% of those caring for an older person are in paid work.
• In the US the informal carer population stands at 44.4 million, 14 million of whom are in full or part time work.
• Within Canada distance working carers – those caring for someone they don’t live with or near – are more likely to fall out of paid work than co-resident carers.

More than 80% of unpaid carers are worried about cuts to services, according to new research for Carers Week 2011 (13-19 June). Almost half don’t know how they will cope as the axe falls on some of the vital support they rely on.

The cuts to services compound the financial sacrifice people make when they start looking after someone who is ill, frail or disabled. Three quarters of those surveyed say they are worse off financially since taking on their caring responsibilities.

When people are forced onto benefits they find that Carer’s Allowance is the lowest benefit of its kind. The Carers Week research shows that two thirds of carers are surprised at how little help they get from the government.

Jules Wood cares for her disabled son. She says: “I am now hugely in debt, my savings have gone, I cannot pay essential bills like gas and electric, I cannot meet my full mortgage payments. Today I would have walked off a bridge if it weren't for my children.”

A carer who wants to remain anonymous says: “I cannot work and this means my home is at risk of repossession. The person I care for will also be made homeless. We live in poverty.”

These are the very people who save the UK economy £119 billion each year* by relieving pressure on health and social services and serving their communities.

Hollywood actress Dame Judi Dench cared for her husband Michael who had lung cancer. He died in January 2001. She says: "As someone with experience of caring for a loved one, I am happy to offer my support to Carers Week. 3 in 5 people will be an unpaid carer at some point in their lives** and many of them sacrifice everything to save our economy £119 billion every year. It’s time to give them something back."

Carers Week Manager, Paul Matz, says: “Many carers are already under a huge amount of financial and emotional pressure. Some carers are forced to give up work to provide 24 hour care. Some of them hold down demanding careers, working a double life as carer and employee. Some of them are children; those who should be the cared for, having to do the caring. Carers are extremely fearful about the impact of cuts on their lives.”

Adult social care services, which support families affected by illness and disability, are facing £1 billion worth of cuts in 2011-12 according to Social Services Directors. This is at the same time as £425 million worth of new services will be needed, due to the aging population.***

The theme of this year’s Carers Week is ‘The True Face of Carers’. It calls for greater recognition and support for the diverse – and often unexpected – range of people who give up their money, time and health to look after somebody else.

Along with Dame Judi Dench, other celebrities supporting this campaign include: Sir David Jason OBE, Jack Charlton OBE, Martin Lewis and Angela Rippon. They all have experience of caring.

Carers Week 2011 has more than 8000 events and activities taking place across the country to ensure that all carers know they are not alone. www.carersweek.org

- ENDS - 13.06.11

For more information, a full breakdown of survey results, or to obtain images or an interview with a case study, Carers Week spokesperson or celebrity supporter, please contact:

Theresa.longbottom@carersuk.org

NOTES TO EDITORS:

2012 carers took part in the survey, both online and by post, which was carried out by Carers Week from 1st February – 4th May 2011.

Results from the survey include:

• 81% of carers are worried about the proposed cuts
•  44% of carers wonder how they will cope with the cuts – almost 1 in 2 carers
• 76% of carers are worse off financially since taking on their caring responsibilities
• 62% of carers have had to develop negotiating, mediating and persuading skills
• 59% of carers were surprised at how little help they get from the government
• 75% of carers have suffered with health issues as a result of caring
• 60% of carers have had to give up on their ambitions and aspirations since taking on their caring responsibilities
• 64% of carers were surprised at how hard it is to be a carer
• 49% of carers have a disability, condition or illness themselves
• 64% of carers provide more than 50 hours of care a week
• 48% have been a carer for more than 10 years
• 78% of respondents are female

References:

*Valuing Carers 2011: Calculating the value of carers’ support. (2011) Carers UK and the University of Leeds.
**It Could Be You - A report on the chances of becoming a carer. (2001) Carers UK, London.
***ADASS Budget Survey 2011 (2011) The Association of Directors of Adult Social Services.

Carers needing support and advice can find out about local organisations and learn what is happening in their area during Carers Week by visiting www.carersweek.org

Carers Week takes place from 13-19 June and is a partnership of 9 national charities: Age UK, Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Care, Dementia UK, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Parkinson’s UK and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers.

We will be highlighting and celebrating the incredible contribution that carers make, sharing the challenges overcome as well as those still being faced. We will be campaigning for greater support and recognition for carers and informing those who are unaware of the services and benefits they are entitled to.

Carers UK has joined with other organisations to write to the political party leaders urging reform of the social care system in England.

The letter asks the party leaders to work for a cross party consensus on tackling the crisis in social care. The letter comes as Andrew Dilnot’s Commission on Funding of Care and Support prepares to make its final recommendations next month.

In the letter to David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband, we say that for 'over a decade, governments of all colours have struggled to agree an answer. But delay is no longer an option.'  We highlight how 'pressure on public finances is pushing an already over‐burdened system to breaking point.'

The letter is signed by Carers UK, Age UK, Local Government Association, ADASS, Joseph Rowntree Foundation, Bupa Care Services, Community Wellbeing Board, ILC‐UK, The Strategic Society Centre, Counsel + Care and National Care Forum.