Unpaid Carers' Perspectives on Respite and Health Services
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Healthwatch Southampton worked in partnership with Unpaid Carers in Southampton (UCSS) to develop and distribute a short survey to unpaid adult carers. The focus of the survey was to seek the views of unpaid carers on respite breaks and their experiences of being identified and listened to by health and social care services in Southampton. The survey was available to complete digitally, and paper copies were available too . A summary of our recommendations based on the feedback from unpaid carers is listed below.
Recommendations
- Health and Social Care services should make it easier for unpaid carers to access support.
- Explore further, the experiences of unpaid carers when supporting their cared-for-people to access health and social care services. All staff working in health and social care services need to better understand the role of unpaid carers.
- It is important for health and social care professionals to really listen to unpaid carers and support them.
- Unpaid Carers Support (UCSS) should continue to provide regular respite breaks for unpaid carers away from cared-for-person and occasional opportunities for activities where the cared-for-person can attend as well.
- Health and Social Care professionals must also consider that unpaid carers may have their own additional needs for support. Professionals must ensure that carers have equal access to information and support that is available.