Local Account of Adult Social Care

Southend Adult Carers Survey

This report details findings from the 2021/22 Survey of Adult Carers in England, undertaken on behalf of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, Adult Social Services.

A random selection of carers who had contact with Adult Social Services, or an organisation working on behalf of Adult Social Services over the last 12 months, were invited to participate in the survey.

The survey asks carers about their views on the services they and the person they care for receive and their quality of life.

National findings can be found on the NHS Digital website.

Survey Results 2021/22

495 survey packs were issued in October 2021, with a follow up to non-respondents in November 2021. 176 completed questionnaires were returned. The response rate for this survey is 36%.

Statistics

  • total responces - 163
  • minimum age - 18
  • maximum age - 103

Question 1

How old is the person you care for?

Results of question 1
Age band of cared person Percent Count
18-24 4.9% 8
25-34 10.4% 17
35-44 7.4% 12
45-54 8.0% 13
55-64 1.2% 2
65-74 4.9% 8
75-84 25.8% 42
85 plus 37.4% 61
Total 163

Question 2

Does the person you care for have...?

Results of question 2
Answer options Percent Responses
Problems connected to ageing 44.7% 76
A physical disability 41.8% 71
Dementia 30.6% 52
Sight or hearing loss 29.4% 50
Long-standing illness 29.4% 50
A learning disability or difficulty 28.8% 49
A mental health problem 8.8% 15
Terminal illness 4.1% 7
Alcohol or drug dependency 0.6% 1

Total Responses - 170

Question 3

Where does the person you care for usually live?

Question 3 Results
Answer options Percent Count
With me 64.6% 106
Somewhere else 35.4%% 58
Totals 164

Question 4

Overall, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the support or services you and the person you care for have received from Social Services in the last 12 months?

Question 4 Results
Answer options Percent Count
We haven’t received any support or services from Social Services in the last 12 months 18.2% 32
I am extremely satisfied 15.2% 27
I am very satisfied 19.9% 35
I am quite satisfied 24.4% 43
I am neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 15.9% 28
I am quite dissatisfied 4.0% 7
I am very dissatisfied 1.1% 2
I am extremely dissatisfied 1.1% 2
Totals 176

Question 5

Has the person you care for used any of the support or services listed below in the last 12 months?

Question 5 Results
  Yes No Don't know Responses
  Count Row % Count Row % Count Row % Count
a. Support or services allowing you to take a break from caring at short notice or in an emergency 21 13.6 131 85.1 2 1.3 154
b. Support or services allowing you to take a break from caring for more than 24 hours 30 19.7 119 78.3 3 2.0 152
c. Support or services to allow you to have a rest from caring for between 1 and 24 hours (e.g. a sitting service) 27 18.8 115 79.9 2 1.4 144
d. Personal assistant 19 13.6 121 86.4 0 0 140
e. Home care/home help 66 45.5 79 54.5 0 0 145
f. Day center or day activities 39 26.5 108 73.5 0 0 147
g. Lunch club 3 2.2 136 97.8 0 0 139
h. Meals Services 3 2.2 136 97.8 0 0 139
i. Equipment or adaptation to their home (such as a wheelchair or handrails) 70 47.9 76 52.1 0 0 146
j. Lifeline Alarm 45 31.9 96 68.1 0 0 141
k. They are permanently resident in a care home 10 7.1 131 92.9 0 0 141

Question 6

Have you used any of the support or services listed below, to help you as a carer over the last 12 months?

Question 6 Results
  Yes No Don't know Responses
  Count Row % Count Row % Count Row % Count
a. Information and advice 64 39.3 92 56.4 7 4.3 163
b. Support from carers groups or someone to talk to in confidence 32 19.6 127 77.9 4 2.5 163
c. Training for carers 1 0.6 149 96.8 4 2.6 154
d. Support to keep you in employment 3 2.0 144 96.0 3 2.0 150

Question 7

Which of the following statements best describes how you spend your time?

Question 7 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I’m able to spend my time as I want, doing things I value or enjoy 31.6% 55
I do some of the things I value or enjoy with my time but not enough 52.9% 92
I don’t do anything I value or enjoy with my time 15.5% 27
Totals 174

Question 8

Which of the following statements best describes how much control you have over your daily life?

Question 8 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I have as much control over my daily life as I want 35.6% 62
I have some control over my daily life but not enough 52.9% 92
I have no control over my daily life 11.5% 20
Totals 174

Question 9

Thinking about how much time you have to look after yourself - in terms of getting enough sleep or eating well - which statement best describes your present situation?

Question 9 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I look after myself 58.5% 103
Sometimes I can’t look after myself well enough 29.0% 51
I feel I am neglecting myself 12.5% 22
Totals 176

Question 10

Thinking about your personal safety, which of the statements best describes your present situation?

Question 10 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I have no worries about my personal safety 88.0% 154
I have some worries about my personal safety 10.9% 19
I am extremely worried about my personal safety 1.1% 2
Totals 175

Question 11

Thinking about how much social contact you’ve had with people you like, which of the following statements best describes your social situation?

Question 11 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I have as much social contact as I want with people I like 37.1% 65
I have some social contact with people but not enough 48.6% 85
I have little social contact with people and feel socially isolated 14.3% 25
Totals 175

Question 12

Thinking about encouragement and support in your caring role, which of the following statements best describes your present situation?

Question 12 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I feel I have encouragement and support 42.9% 72
I feel I have some encouragement and support but not enough 42.9% 72
I feel I have no encouragement and support 14.3% 24
Totals 168

Question 13

Thinking about the other people you have caring responsibilities for, which of the following best describes your current situation? Please exclude the person you spend most time helping.

Question 13 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I don’t have caring responsibilities for anyone else 60.8% 107
I always have enough time to care for them 19.3% 34
I sometimes have enough time to care for them 17.0% 30
I never have enough time to care for them 2.8% 5
Totals 176

Question 14

In the last 12 months, has your health been affected by your caring role in any of the ways listed below?

Question 14 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
Feeling tired 73.7% 123
General feeling of stress 56.9% 95
Disturbed sleep 51.5% 86
Feeling depressed 40.7% 68
Short tempered/ irritable 38.3% 64
Physical strain (e.g. back) 27.5% 46
Made an existing condition worse 16.8% 28
Developed my own health conditions 14.4% 24
Had to see own GP 12.6% 21
No, none of these 12.0% 20
Loss of appetite 9.0% 15
Other 0.6% 1

Total Responses - 167

Question 15

In the last 12 months, has caring caused you any financial difficulties?

Question 15 Results
Answer options Percent Count
No, not at all 67.3% 111
Yes, to some extent 29.1% 48
Yes, a lot 3.6% 6
Totals 165

Question 16

In the last 12 months, have you found it easy or difficult to find information and advice about support, services or benefits?

Question 16 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I have not tried to find information or advice in the last 12 months 45.1% 78
Very easy to find 7.5% 13
Fairly easy to find 21.4% 37
Fairly difficult to find 17.9% 31
Very difficult to find 8.1% 14
Totals 173

Question 17

In the last 12 months, how helpful has the information and advice you have received been? Please include information and advice from different organizations, such as voluntary organizations and private agencies as well as Social Services.

Question 17 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I have not received any information or advice in the last 12 months 48.6% 85
Very helpful 14.3% 25
Quite helpful 30.3% 53
Quite unhelpful 5.1% 9
Very unhelpful 1.7% 3
Totals 175

Question 18

In the last 12 months, do you feel you have been involved or consulted as much as you wanted to be, in discussions about the support or services provided to the person you care for?

Question 18 Results
Answer options Percent Count
IThere have been no discussions that I am aware of, in the last 12 months 31.6% 55
I always felt involved or consulted 22.4% 39
I usually felt involved or consulted 27.0% 47
I sometimes felt involved or consulted 14.4% 25
I never felt involved or consulted 4.6% 8
Totals 174

Question 19

In addition to your caring role, please tell us which of the following also applies to you?

Question 19 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
Retired 59.2% 100
Employed full-time 11.8% 20
Not in paid work 11.8% 20
Employed part-time (working 30 hours or less) 11.2% 19
Doing voluntary work 5.9% 10
Self-employed part-time 4.1% 7
Other 3.6% 6
Self-employed full-time 2.4% 4

Question 20

Thinking about combining your paid work and caring responsibilities, which of the following statements best describes your current situation?

Question 20 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
I am not in paid employment for other reasons (e.g. Retired) 56.0% 94
I am not in paid employment because of my caring responsibilities 16.1% 27
I am in paid employment and I feel supported by my employer 13.7% 23
I do not need any support from my employer to combine my work and caring responsibilities 6.0% 10
I am self-employed and I am able to balance my work and caring responsibilities 5.4% 9
I am in paid employment but I don’t feel supported by my employer 2.4% 4
I am self-employed but I am unable to balance my work and caring responsibilities 0.6% 1

Total Responses - 168

Question 21

About how long have you been looking after or helping the person you care for?

Question 21 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
20 years or more 30.6% 49
Over 5 years but less than 10 years 18.8% 30
Over 1 year but less than 3 years 17.5% 28
Over 3 years but less than 5 years 13.1% 21
Over 10 years but less than 15 years 11.3% 18
Over 15 years but less than 20 years 5.0% 8
Over 6 months but less than a year 3.1% 5
Less than 6 months 0.6% 1

Total Responses - 160

Question 22

About how long do you spend each week looking after or helping the person you care for?

Question 22 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
100 or more hours per week 29.6% 48
20-34 hours per week 13.0% 21
Other 11.1% 18
10-19 hours per week 8.6% 14
0-9 hours per week 8.0% 13
75-99 hours per week 8.0% 13
Varies - 20 hours or more per week 6.8% 11
50-74 hours per week 5.6% 9
35-49 hours per week 4.9% 8
Varies - Under 20 hours per week 4.3% 7

Total Responses - 162

Question 23

Over the last 12 months, what kinds of things did you usually do for the person you care for?

Question 23 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
Other practical help? 92.7% 152
Keeping an eye on him/her to see he/she is all right? 92.1% 151
Helping with paperwork or financial matters? 90.9% 149
Helping with dealing with care services and benefits? 87.8% 144
Giving emotional support? 85.4% 140
Keeping him/her company? 84.8% 139
Taking him/her out? 64.0% 105
Giving medicines? 62.8% 103
Personal care? 61.6% 101
Physical help? 41.5% 68
Other help? 4.9% 8

Question 24

Do you have any of the following?

Question 24 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
None of the above 49.7% 81
A long-standing illness 23.3% 38
A physical impairment or disability 14.7% 24
Sight or hearing loss 11.0% 18
Other 7.4% 12
A mental health problem or illness 6.1% 10
A learning disability or difficulty 3.1% 5

Question 25

How many children aged 18 or under do you have parental responsibility for?

Question 25 Results
Value Percent Count
0 91.4% 149
1 4.9% 8
2 3.1% 5
3 0.6% 1
Totals 163

Question 26

Did someone help you to complete this questionnaire?

Question 26 Results
Answer options Percent Count
Yes 13.0% 22
No 87.0% 147
Totals 169

Question 27

Thinking about your experiences during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, how satisfied or dissatisfied are you with the support or services you and the person you care for have received from Social Services?

Question 27 Results
Answer options Percent Responses
We didn’t receive any support or services from Social Services during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic 46.2% 79
I am extremely satisfied 8.2% 14
I am very satisfied 17.0% 29
I am quite satisfied 13.5% 23
I am neither satisfied nor dissatisfied 8.2% 14
I am quite dissatisfied 5.3% 9
I am very dissatisfied 0.6% 1
I am extremely dissatisfied 1.2% 2
Total 171

Question 28

Thinking about how much social contact you had with people you like during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which of the following statements best describes your social situation during this time?

Question 28 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I had as much social contact as I want with people I like 15.3% 26
I had some social contact with people but not enough 44.7% 76
I had little social contact with people and felt socially isolated 40.0% 68
Totals 170

Question 29

Thinking about your personal safety during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, which of the statements best describes how you felt during this time?

Question 29 Results
Answer options Percent Count
I had no worries about my personal safety 76.5% 130
I had some worries about my personal safety 14.7% 25
I was extremely worried about my personal safety 8.8% 15
Totals 170

Question 30

Thinking about your experiences during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, did you feel you were involved or consulted as much as you wanted to be, in discussions about the support or services provided to the person you care for?

Question 30 Results
Answer options Percent Count
There were no discussions that I am aware of, during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic 53.0% 89
I always felt involved or consulted 19.6% 33
I usually felt involved or consulted 10.7% 18
I sometimes felt involved or consulted 11.9% 20
I never felt involved or consulted 4.8% 8
Totals 168
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