Study reveals carers' depression

Support for carersFull-time carers of elderly relatives suffering from mental illness are themselves likely to be depressed, according to the authors of a new study who have called for more supports for carers.

The survey of 100 carers in the northwest found that 21 per cent of them suffered from depression. Many more were under "significant strain".

The study, carried out by Dr Guy Molyneaux and Siobhan McEniff from the Old Age Psychiatry Service covering Sligo, Leitrim, west Cavan and south Donegal, also found evidence that many carers are very isolated because of their circumstances.

"We found that almost 30 per cent of carers do not drive which, given that we are talking about a mostly rural area, suggests that they may be isolated," said Dr Molyneaux. "Not being able to drive has implications for simple things like not being able to get out to do the shopping."

The average age of the carers was 59 and many cared for relatives who suffered from dementia or depression as well as, in some cases, physical problems.

Ms McEniff, as carers' development officer in the region, has 300 carers on her books and gets 15 new referrals every month.

She said the region had the highest proportion of over 65- year-olds in the State and the highest level of deprivation.

The findings, presented at the sixth annual multidisciplinary research conference at Sligo General Hospital at the weekend, showed that the more severely the patients were impaired, the more likely the carers were to be depressed or under strain.

Of the 100 carers surveyed, 65 were women while 55 were co-habitees of the patients.

The research showed that spouses were less likely to be depressed than other relatives who cared for family members.

"This may be because they want to and always expected to look after their spouse," said Dr Molyneaux. He said daughters were more likely to suffer from depression than sons who were carers. One theory put forward at the conference was that women tended to be the "meat in the sandwich" and likely to be looking after small children and working outside the home as well.

The study's authors said one of the most significant findings was the level of undiagnosed depression among carers. They found that 55 per cent of carers got no statutory supports while 10 per cent of carers said they got "no support at all".

Respite care was top of the carers' wish list with 30 per cent saying this would ease their burden. Twenty-one per cent told researchers that they had no unmet needs. "The implication, of course, is that 79 per cent of carers have needs which are not being met," said Dr Molyneaux.

According to Dr Geraldine McCarthy, the consultant attached to the Old Age Psychiatry Service in the northwest: "Respite care and practical supports such as home helps were identified as the biggest needs among this group.

"If the carer is not coping, the patient will end up in residential care and surveys have shown that what most people want is to stay at home," she said.

Of the 150,000 carers in the country, only 22,000 qualify for the carers' allowance.