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

2. Charity Director Age NI
Paschal McKeown
Charity Director
Age NI
#OlderCarersNI

3. What We Do
Inspire Enable Support 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 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 intervention and 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. Head of Policy and Public Affairs Marie Curie Northern Ireland
Joan McEwan
Head of Policy and Public Affairs
Marie Curie Northern Ireland
#OlderCarersNI

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

18. 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+

19. 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

20. “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”

21. 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