Carers Health Needs Report
1st April 2014 – 31st March 2015
North Lanarkshire North Lanarkshire is the fourth largest Scottish local authority, located in Central Scotland – mid-way between Edinburgh and Glasgow. The 2011 census population for North Lanarkshire was 337. 727. The population per square kilometre is 719 persons making North Lanarkshire the fifth most densely populated council area after the four city local authorities. Since the 2001 census, the population has increased by 5%. This is the same percentage increase as seen in Scotland overall. There are estimated to be 49,000 unpaid carers in North Lanarkshire providing care on a regular basis (Scottish Household Survey 2007-2008).
23% of carers provide 50 hours or more of care each week Over 70% of carers have been providing care for over five years 11% of women undertake a caring role compared to 8% of men North Lanarkshire Carers Together North Lanarkshire Carers Together was established in November 2000. It is a registered charity (Charity No. SCO33795 and, since 2005, a company limited by guarantee (Company No. 284126). The organisation’s base is the carers’ centre at 51 Hope Street in Motherwell. Co-ordinators for Carers
The Co-ordinators for Carers work within 64 GP Practices across North Lanarkshire. Over the course of 2014/2015 they have met with many “hidden/still to be identified” carers, of whom 417 participated anonymously in this Carers Health Needs survey.
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417 Carers participated in this Carers Health Needs survey covering North Lanarkshire Local Authority area.
Gender of Carers
100 90 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0
Female (%) Male (%)
Breakdown by Township
Airdrie Bellshill Coatbridge Cumbernauld Motherwell Wishaw/Shotts Other NLC Area Female 40 25 25 46 48 52 26 262 % 62% 64% 56% 70% 61% 59% 74% 63% Male 25 14 20 20 31 36 9 155 % 38% 36% 44% 30% 39% 41% 26% 37% TOTAL 65 39 45 66 79 88 35 417
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414 carers responded to this question
Age of Carers
180
160
140
120
100
80
Amount Participants of 60
40
20
0
Under 18 18-25 26-35 36-45 46-55 56-75 76+
Breakdown by Township
Airdrie Bellshill Coatbridge Cumbernauld Motherwell Wishaw Other NLC Area /Shotts Under 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18-25 2 1 3 0 2 1 2 11 26-35 1 5 3 0 9 7 2 27 36-45 11 9 2 7 8 10 3 50 46-55 15 9 10 23 18 28 15 118 56-75 25 13 23 33 32 31 12 169 76+ 8 2 4 3 10 11 1 39 TOTAL 62 39 45 66 79 88 35 414
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Carer Health Needs Airdrie
Anxiety/Stress 49
Arthritis 19
Back Pain 20
Bullying 3
Coronary Heart Disease 2
Depression/Feeling Sad 25
Eating Disorders 3
Emergency Planning 4
Exercise/Being Active 8
Financial Impact of Caring 23
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 2
Isolation/Feeling Alone 18
Lack of Sleep 19
Learning Disabilities 1
Mental Health Issues 7
Peer Pressure/Friendships 6
Pain Management 6
Physical Disabilities 5
Sexual Health/Relationships 6
Smoking 3
Substance Misuse Issues
Other 2
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
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Carer Health Needs Bellshill
Anxiety/Stress 26
Arthritis 2
Back Pain 9
Bullying 2
Coronary Heart Disease 4
Depression/Feeling Sad 23
Eating Disorders 2
Emergency Planning 5
Exercise/Being Active 4
Financial Impact of Caring 13
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment
Isolation/Feeling Alone 12
Lack of Sleep 16
Learning Disabilities 1
Mental Health Issues 5
Peer Pressure/Friendships 3
Pain Management
Physical Disabilities 2
Sexual Health/Relationships 3
Smoking 2
Substance Misuse Issues 1
Other
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
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Carer Health Needs Coatbridge
Anxiety/Stress 33
Arthritis 10
Back Pain 17
Bullying 1
Coronary Heart Disease
Depression/Feeling Sad 24
Eating Disorders 2
Emergency Planning 4
Exercise/Being Active 6
Financial Impact of Caring 14
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 2
Isolation/Feeling Alone 15
Lack of Sleep 19
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues 3
Peer Pressure/Friendships 1
Pain Management 4
Physical Disabilities 1
Sexual Health/Relationships 1
Smoking 1
Substance Misuse Issues
Other 1
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35
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Carer Health Needs Cumbernauld
Anxiety/Stress 46
Arthritis 10
Back Pain 18
Bullying 4
Coronary Heart Disease 5
Depression/Feeling Sad 32
Eating Disorders 7
Emergency Planning 7
Exercise/Being Active 10
Financial Impact of Caring 16
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 5
Isolation/Feeling Alone 17
Lack of Sleep 32
Learning Disabilities 1
Mental Health Issues 3
Peer Pressure/Friendships 2
Pain Management 4
Physical Disabilities 7
Sexual Health/Relationships 1
Smoking 6
Substance Misuse Issues
Other
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
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Carer Health Needs Motherwell
Anxiety/Stress 54
Arthritis 19
Back Pain 17
Bullying 4
Coronary Heart Disease 5
Depression/Feeling Sad 38
Eating Disorders 4
Emergency Planning 14
Exercise/Being Active 14
Financial Impact of Caring 21
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 10
Isolation/Feeling Alone 22
Lack of Sleep 33
Learning Disabilities 3
Mental Health Issues 15
Peer Pressure/Friendships 7
Pain Management 6
Physical Disabilities 9
Sexual Health/Relationships 6
Smoking 6
Substance Misuse Issues
Other
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 15 | P a g e
Carer Health Needs Wishaw/Shotts
Anxiety/Stress 67
Arthritis 15
Back Pain 24
Bullying
Coronary Heart Disease 3
Depression/Feeling Sad 49
Eating Disorders 4
Emergency Planning 6
Exercise/Being Active 10
Financial Impact of Caring 29
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 1
Isolation/Feeling Alone 25
Lack of Sleep 30
Learning Disabilities 1
Mental Health Issues 13
Peer Pressure/Friendships 3
Pain Management 8
Physical Disabilities 3
Sexual Health/Relationships 12
Smoking 8
Substance Misuse Issues
Other
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
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Carer Health Needs Other Areas
Anxiety/Stress 19
Arthritis 4
Back Pain 5
Bullying
Coronary Heart Disease 3
Depression/Feeling Sad 20
Eating Disorders 2
Emergency Planning 4
Exercise/Being Active 6
Financial Impact of Caring 7
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 2
Isolation/Feeling Alone 11
Lack of Sleep 12
Learning Disabilities
Mental Health Issues 3
Peer Pressure/Friendships 2
Pain Management 2
Physical Disabilities 1
Sexual Health/Relationships 1
Smoking 1
Substance Misuse Issues 1
Other
0 5 10 15 20 25
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Carers Health Needs North Lanarkshire
Anxiety/Stress 294
Arthritis 79
Back Pain 110
Bullying 14
Coronary Heart Disease 22
Depression/Feeling Sad 211
Eating Disorders 24
Emergency Planning 44
Exercise/Being Active 58
Financial Impact of Caring 123
Hearing Impairment/Visual Impairment 22
Isolation/Feeling Alone 120
Lack of Sleep 161
Learning Disabilities 7
Mental Health Issues 49
Peer Pressure/Friendships 24
Pain Management 30
Physical Disabilities 28
Sexual Health/Relationships 30
Smoking 27
Substance Misuse Issues 2
Other 3
0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350
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Additional information Airdrie Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit COPD, diverticulitis, finance, respite, emotional support, job skills, other carer employment, lack of support, information, short breaks communication between hospitals and other agencies Bellshill Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit cancer, cleanliness, finance, other carer support, information via website, incontinence, COPD respite, more groups available, more mental health information Coatbridge Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit diabetes, blood pressure, befriending, help with forms, transport, understanding the COPD, hip problems illness, more help from doctors, more help from social work, information, short breaks, respite, isolation, more understanding from employers about caring role, Cumbernauld Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit Asthma, diabetes, blood other carer support, befriending, meals on wheels, pressure, COPD, information, more groups available, more understanding diverticulitis, multiple from employers about caring role, respite, transport, short sclerosis, lack of respite, breaks muscle cramps, someone to talk to, stoma Motherwell Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit COPD, employment, anti- finance, respite, other carer support, befriending, social neighbours sheltered housing, help with forms, short breaks, emotional support, information Wishaw/Shotts Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit COPD, employment, having finance, respite, other carer support, information, good someone to talk to night sleep, more help from doctors, short breaks
Other Areas Other carer health concerns Additional support that would be of benefit Nil finance, respite, more groups available, information, other carer support, befriending, good night sleep, more help from doctors, emotional support, job skills, short breaks
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Key Findings
417 carers from North Lanarkshire participated anonymously in the Carers Health Needs survey during the period 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015. The key findings were: anxiety and stress was the highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire – 71% of all carers who took part in the 2014/15 survey. This health problem was ranked first in Airdrie, Bellshill, Coatbridge, Cumbernauld, Motherwell, and Wishaw & Shotts, and second in ‘Other Areas’. anxiety and stress was also the highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire in the 2013/14 survey. Comment: Fairly predictable that this problem continues to be the highest ranked in North Lanarkshire. depression and feeling sad was the second highest ranked problem in North Lanarkshire – 51% of all carers who took part in the 2014/15 survey. This health problem was ranked second in each township with the exception of ‘Other Areas’ where it was ranked first. depression and feeling sad was the fourth highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire in the 2013/14 survey. Comment: Again fairly predictable finding that this problem ranks highly. lack of sleep was the third highest ranked problem in North Lanarkshire – 39% of all carers who took part in the 2014/15 survey. This health problem was ranked second in Cumbernauld, third in Bellshill, Coatbridge, Motherwell, Wishaw & Shotts, ‘Other Areas’, and equal 5th in Airdrie. lack of sleep was the second highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire in the 2013/14 survey. Comment: This problem has again ranked highly for a second year in a row. financial impact of caring was the fourth highest ranked problem in North Lanarkshire – 30% of all carers who took part in the 2014/15 survey. This health problem was ranked third in Airdrie, fourth in Bellshill and Wishaw & Shotts, fifth in Motherwell and ‘Other Areas’, and sixth in Coatbridge and Cumbernauld. financial impact of caring was the eighth highest ranked health problem in the 2013/14 survey. Comment: Suggest more targeted work needs to be undertaken to understand the nature of this problem and how it manifests as a health problem, and why it appears to be an increasing for carers.
Isolation and feeling alone was fifth highest ranked problem in North Lanarkshire – 29% of all carers who took part in the 2014/15 survey. This health problem was ranked third in Motherwell, fourth in Cumbernauld, Wishaw & Shotts, and ‘Other Areas’, fifth in Bellshill and Coatbridge, and sixth in Airdrie. isolation and feeling alone was the sixth highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire in the 2013/14 survey. Comment: similar ranking to last year. back pain was the sixth highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire – 26% of all carers who took part in the 2014/15 survey. This health problem was ranked fourth in Airdrie and Coatbridge, fifth in Cumbernauld, sixth in Bellshill and Wishaw & Shotts, and seventh in Motherwell and ‘Other Areas’. back pain was the third highest ranked health problem in North Lanarkshire in the 2013/14 survey. Comment: significant drop in overall ranking from last year. Suggest we need to understand if any ‘back pain’ initiatives impacted on this finding during 2014/15.
For and on behalf of North Lanarkshire Carers Together June 2015
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