The nature and impact of caring for family members with a disability in Australia
From PhilanthropyWiki
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This report from the Australian Institute of Family Studies focuses on the estimated 474,600 Australians who are primary providers of care to another person because of disability or old age. It examines the effect of caring on family and social relationshops, documents the social, physical, emotional and financial impact of caring on families, and examines the effect of caring on employment and labour force status.
Among the report's findings:
- Carers had significantly worse mental health and vitality, and higher rates of depression, than the general population
- Family members of carers are also disproportionately affected by depression
- Carers tend to be in poorer physical health than the general population
- A higher proportion of carers and their families suffer from financial hardship than the general population
- 13% of carers must care for more than one person, and more than one third of carers have the care of at least one child as well as the person they care for
- Many carers have left employment due to their caring responsibilities
The report concludes that "the challenge for the Australian community is to give families an opportunity to care for a person with a disability, while minimising the social, emotional and economic costs associated with caring."