What can the experiences of young adult carers tell us about what can make services more helpful for them and their families?

Stevens, Madeleine ORCID: 0000-0003-3540-3494 and Brimblecombe, Nicola ORCID: 0000-0002-6147-5726 (2022) What can the experiences of young adult carers tell us about what can make services more helpful for them and their families? Journal of Youth Studies, 25 (9). 1182 - 1198. ISSN 1469-9680

Text (Stevens_what-can-experiences-of-young-adult-carers-tells-us--published) - Published Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (2MB)

• Author
• Scopus publication

Abstract

Young adults who provide unpaid care for older relatives have poorer outcomes than their peers in education, employment, health and wellbeing. Services that can potentially have a positive impact on their lives include services provided to the person they care for. However, survey research in England has indicated that receipt of such services is not necessarily linked to fewer negative consequences for young adult carers. We conducted in-depth interviews with fourteen young adult carers who had responded to the original survey. We explored their experiences with services for the care recipient and what factors limit or enhance the usefulness of those services. We found three interrelated themes. First, difficulties accessing services can add to stress, and make problems harder to address when services are implemented; second, lack of continuity of services, and practitioners, undermines relationships and future trust in services, whereas consistent relationships are beneficial. Third, young adult carers described the benefits that resulted from their being involved in discussions and decisions about services, and the problems when this does not happen. The wellbeing of the young adult carer and the person receiving care are shown to be inextricably interrelated; we draw out implications for efforts to improve services.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.tandfonline.com/toc/cjys20/current
Additional Information:	© 2021 The Authors
Divisions:	Social Policy Care Policy and Evaluation Centre
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Date Deposited:	18 Jun 2021 09:54
Last Modified:	23 Nov 2024 04:54
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/110876

Actions (login required)

View Item