29 June 2007
Families caring for people with disabilities
The Families Caring for a Person with a Disability Study and the social lives of carers, by Dr Ben Edwards, Dr Daryl Higgins (Australian Institute of Family Studies), and Dr Norbert Zmijewski (Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) in Family Matters, no.76, 2007.
Approximately 13% of people in Australian households provide care for people in need due to age or disability. An exciting study on the impact on carers of providing this care has come out of a collaborative project between the Institute and the Australian Government Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaCSIA).
The project's three major aims were:
- to explore the physical, emotional, social and financial impact on families of caring for a person with a disability
- to examine carers' work force participation and the effect of caring on family relationships; and
- to compare families who are caring for relatives with other families who are not in order to understand the particular issues involved in caring for relatives with a disability.
More than 1000 carers were interviewed by telephone and asked a range of questions about how their families care for a person with a disability, about the impact of their carer responsibilities, and about their social contacts outside the household.
Dr Daryl Higgins said, 'Although tremendous benefits to society come out of families providing care for relatives who have a disability, the impact on carers of providing such care, and in turn, the impact on their families can be substantial.'
'This study provides strong evidence that the social lives of carers are most probably affected by the fact that they provide care for relatives with disabilities. It identifies factors unique to carers' experiences and more general indicators (financial hardship) that have the potential, if addressed, to improve carers' social lives and ultimately their wellbeing.'
The study found that carers were 1.46 times more likely than the general population to have low face-to-face social contact with friends and relatives living outside of the household. Carers who experienced more financial hardship and cared for a person with a disability with greater care needs were more likely to have low levels of face-to-face social contact and want more social contact with friends and relatives.
Dr Ben Edwards said, 'Our study demonstrates that carers' experiences of social isolation, financial hardship and their level of general health are linked. For instance, carers who reported experiencing financial hardship are 1.89 times more likely than others in the general population to want more social contact.
'The study's findings point to a need to ensure that policies or services that aim to enhance the social lives of carers consider carers' needs for more intensive support, including assistance with accessing social opportunities, outside the household.'
The study provides a valuable source of information to be used in addressing issues raised by disability support groups, carers' associations, local, state or territory government services and assistance programs, and the community in general.
Edwards, B., Higgins, D.J. & Zmijewski, N (2007). The Families Caring for a Person with a Disability Study and the social lives of carers. Family Matters 76: 8-17. Abstract
Contact:
Dr Ben Edwards
Research Fellow
(03) 9214 7853
0410 601 554