STATE OF CARING REPORT 2017
Carers ’ experiences of carer ’ s assessments
© Chris Steele-Perkins / Magnum , 2014
Experiences of carers assessments in the UK
Across the UK , over 6 out of 10 carers ( 65 %) reported having received an assessment of the impact of their caring role in the previous year . This was broadly similar across groups .
Of the 65 % who reported having received an assessment in the last year , fewer than half ( 45 %) said that their ability and willingness to provide care was thoroughly considered and reflected in the support they receive . Only a third ( 34 %) said they felt that the support needed to look after their own mental and physical health alongside caring was thoroughly considered and reflected in the assessment process and subsequent consideration , while 3 out of 10 ( 32 %) said that they felt their need to have regular breaks from caring was thoroughly considered .
Those providing palliative care were the most likely to say that their ability and willingness to provide care ( 68 %) and the support needed to look after their own mental and physical health alongside caring ( 50 %) was thoroughly considered and reflected in the assessment process and subsequent consideration . They were also the most likely to say that their need to have regular breaks from caring was thoroughly considered ( 40 %). On the other hand , people caring for disabled children under 18 , were least likely to say their ability and willingness to provide care and their own mental and physical health alongside caring was thoroughly considered , with only 31 % and one quarter ( 24 %) agreeing with this , respectively . This group was also least likely to agree that their need to have regular breaks from caring was thoroughly considered , with just 18 % saying this .
I don ’ t feel the assessment considered me as a person ... I felt it was more about making sure I could carry on caring
As a parent carer of disabled children my local authority says I ’ m not entitled to an assessment
No support was offered or report on the meeting supplied . It would have been nice to have a reference letter of what to do should I become ill or should there be an emergency that requires the patient to be looked after by someone else at short notice
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