Find out about the way that families care for their elderly relatives in the UK, and about options for extra help if being a family caregiver becomes too difficult.
In the UK, unpaid family caregivers currently provide nearly £40 billion pounds worth of care to elderly relatives. The same study that made this discovery also uncovered that:
- Family caregivers in their 50’s are twice as likely to be juggling relationships with their own children, grandchildren, juggling work and caring for their elderly parents
- 57% of elderly caregivers in their 50’s are stressed and unhappy
- Around half of those caring for elderly relatives find the financial pressure of doing so a challenge
- 13% of those caring for elderly parents have to pause their career in order to care for their loved one
- 15% of those caring for elderly parents have put off financially planning retirement because of their care role
Of course, these figures are damning but it is important to understand the sacrifice many of us willingly make in order to care for elderly relatives.
The Role Reversal
One of the biggest struggles family caregivers have to deal with when caring for elderly parents is the role reversal. The sudden intimacy can be a problem for parents and children who previously had quite a practical relationship. Children may struggle with seeing their once strong parent requiring help, and depending on them.
The Challenge Of Caring
The challenge of caring for your elderly relatives is emotional and physical. It encompasses so many challenges that carers often feel alone with emotions they never expected to have, such as bitterness and anger. Physically, carers may forgo their own health because they are focused on the health of a loved one, putting themselves at risk of all kinds of ailments and eventually, caregiver burnout.
Gaining A Comfortable Set-up
Caring for elderly relatives can work if a comfortable set-up is achieved. This means lots of teething problems, growing pains and adjustments for quite some time usually. Physical and emotional exhaustion is common, there might be arguments and strain. There may be boundaries crossed on both sides, resentment, frustrations and general upheaval.
However, with the right communication, openness and eventual balance, the situation can work well for many families. Children providing care can (although hard) find that sense of satisfaction in helping their parents live a good quality of later life. Parents can live comfortably in the care of their children without having to go into a care home situation.
One major part of gaining a comfortable set-up is accessing the care and support available to you as a carer. Support can help to relieve the emotional, physical and financial burden of such a position. Consider looking at the following types of support as a family caregiver:
- Speak to friends and family at least for emotional support, but possible to share care responsibilities
- Your GP
- Local Social Services
- Live-in Care Hub
- A qualified Independent Financial Advisor
It really does pay to do a lot of research when it comes to creating a comfortable carer situation for yourself and your elderly relative. There is support available to you which can help create a happier situation for everyone involved.