Time spent caring for others on the rise
The number of primary carers, spending 40 hours a week or more, providing care has increased, according to new figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
In Australia, 12% of people provide informal care to an older person or to someone with a disability or long term health condition.
According to ABS’ Sarah March, there were 2.7 million people providing informal care in 2012, with about 29% of these being primary carers.
“At our last survey in 2009, 35% of primary carers were spending 40 hours a week or more providing care, for 2012, this has increased to 39%, or about two in five,” Ms March said.
“We also found that one in five primary carers spent between 20 and 40 hours per week and almost two in five spent less than 20 hours per week,” she added.
Women were more likely to be carers, and also more likely to be primary carers.
The ABS found that there were 1.5 million female carers, and of these, 536,700 were primary carers, compared to 1.2 million male carers and 233,100 male primary carers.
“Carers provide an important service to the community, and our survey found that caring duties can impact on their social life, health and wellbeing,” Ms March said.
“About half the primary carers reported they had experienced feeling weary, often feeling angry, resentful, worried, depressed, and/or having a stress related illness as a result of their caring role.”
Carers were also less likely to be participating in the labour force (56%) than those who do not have caring responsibilities (69%).
More information is available in Caring in the Community 2012, available for free download from the ABS website.
