Caring brings family closer
The caring role is said to bring some families closer together, a new report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed last week. A review of statistics in 2009 found 36% of primary carers reported their caring role had brought them closer to the loved one they were looking after.
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The caring role is said to bring some families closer together, a new report released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) revealed last week.
A review of statistics in 2009 found 36% of primary carers reported their caring role had brought them closer to the loved one they were looking after.
The ABS report, released last week to coincide with National Carers Week, showed 36% of primary carers reported their physical or emotional well-being had changed due to their caring role and 50% had interrupted sleep as a result of caring.
While 36% reported the caring role had brought them closer together with their partner, for most primary carers their relationships with partners, other family members and friends were reportedly unaffected.
There were 2.6 million carers in Australia providing assistance in 2009, with core activities such as communication, mobility and self-care help, either for someone with a disability or for someone aged 60 years and older.
There were 98,300 carers who reported a need for respite care, but 64% of those requiring this type of care had never used respite care services.
Three-quarters of 15 to 24 year old carers were fully engaged in employment and/or education, compared to 82% of carers who were in the same age range.
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