Looking into the first complication interdependence as Andrew’s daughter I felt uncomfortable doing the things that formal carers would do such as wash him as this would not be socially acceptable, however I would shop, clean, cook, deal with financial matters, and help maintain his flat. Other family members would help with this as well as my sister, uncles, and grandmother, and to a point my young children who would help by reading to him or by playing games such as “I spy”. This did show that he was very dependant on us but also we were dependant on him I would still look to him for advice, my children would still look to him as a grandfather, and would like to keep his attention by playing games. This did prove that at some level there was definite but different levels of interdependence.
Duration and frequency is the next complication, although Andrew had formal carers help him everyday family members would come around most days to help, and offer him company because we did this so frequently we were therefore informal carers. I did on occasions speak with my father’s social worker to try and work out what was best for his situation (with his input being made of upmost importance). I can identify that I did spend enough time caring for my father to make me an informal carer.
“Labelling yourself as an informal carer requires a major shift in the way you see yourself” (pg 20, block 1, K100, The Open University)
Labelling can be a very sensitive subject for “informal carers” who are close to the person being cared for such as family members or close friends, people do not want to be put in a box as it were this is an important person in their lives, they want to help.
Labelling would add responsibility for what they were doing. It is beneficial to all people who help if they are labelled this way because they are able to get recognition, and help from the authorities.
Networks Andrew had a large network of family and friends who were informal carers, we must not try and say any person is more important than the other as everyone helps with things that he could not do on his own. We have to look at the situation as a whole and then we can see that everyone is valued, and by having a network of informal carers Andrew’s life is made easier on a daily basis because everyone does their “bit to help”. I May clean, my sister may cook; my grandmother may keep him company.
In conclusion being an informal carer is a difficult position to be in, and many informal carers should be receiving the support they both need and deserve but to do this they must firstly be labelled as what they are, for some it would be a weight off their shoulders to finally put a name to what they do, for others they may see this as nothing more than “pigeon holing” them to make it easier for the state to recognize what they do.
Reference: The Open University (2005) k100 Understanding Health and Social Care, unit 1 ‘Caring; A Family Affair?’ Milton Keynes, The Open University.
