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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Unpaid carers make a vital contribution to our society, and need to be supported and recognised by the NHS and local authorities as partners in care provision. The aim of the current report is to provide an indication of which types of carers may be in particular need of support, and examine the demographic characteristics of carers. The report analysed responses to the Scottish Household Survey between 1999 and 2004.
Key findings
- Around one in eight adults in Scotland provide some kind of unpaid care to another person(s).
- Overall, carers are more likely to be females aged over 35 years old, who are married, and living in non-working, non-single households.
- Being an unpaid carer has an impact on employment participation, with carers of working age being less likely than non-carers of working age to be in paid employment.
- There were some key differences between those who care for someone within their own household (most commonly a spouse or partner) and those who care for someone in another household (most commonly a parent). Those who care within the household are generally older individuals who are more likely to have an illness or disability than those caring outwith the household. Taken together, the results also reveal with those caring within the household are more financially disadvantaged ( i.e. they cope less well financially and more commonly live in the most deprived areas in Scotland than those who care outside the household).
- In particular, sole carers who care for another household member appear to be more financially disadvantaged than other carers.
- Younger carers (aged 16-24 years old) more commonly live in lower income households and are more likely to report poor health than other adults their age.
- Taken together, the results indicate that the most vulnerable subgroups of carers are: younger carers (aged 16-24 years old); those who care in the household; and especially sole carers who provide care in the household.
- In contrast, older carers appear to be able to cope better financially than other adults their age.
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