As many as 61% Poles know personally or have met a carer of an elderly or chronically ill person, while nearly 28% Poles have provided unpaid care for a chronically ill person, according to a SW Research study conducted as part of the Nutricia Foundation's educational campaign 'Medical Nutrition - Your Meals to Fight Illness'[1]. Being a carer is a role that often comes suddenly and without preparation. In order to draw attention to the problems and needs of carers, as well as to appreciate and emphasise their great importance to society, National Carers' Day (12 February) was established and is being celebrated for the fifth time.
2/3 of Poles supported a carer
The carer often takes on many responsibilities. By supporting the patient in his or her daily activities, he or she often takes on the role of nurse, physiotherapist or, in part, psychologist, boosting the patient's morale and motivating him or her to fight the illness. Caring for a loved one who is ill is a widespread social phenomenon, although not very visible in the public space. According to a survey commissioned by the Nutricia Foundation in late January/early February this year, more than half of the Poles surveyed - 61% - know or have personally met someone who takes care of or has taken care of a loved one - a senior citizen or a chronically ill person. Encouragingly, the majority of respondents (68%) admit that they have supported the carer in daily chores or in other ways.
Poles most often help their carers with shopping (64%). Other forms of support are talking, listening (62%) and closeness, spending time together (56%).
The role of the carer in the recovery process of the sick person is invaluable. Carers need the support of their loved ones and, indeed, studies show that Poles support them in various ways - whether emotionally, through conversation or in daily chores such as preparing meals. For many years, a day has been missing from the calendar to acknowledge the dedication of carers and to express gratitude to them. Therefore, on the initiative of eight patient organisations, National Carers' Day was established. The date for the establishment of this holiday was not chosen by chance. 12 February falls the day after the celebration of World Sick Day. The establishment of National Carer's Day aims to highlight the unique relationship between the patient and his or her carer, to emphasise the huge role of the carer in the patient's illness and recovery process, but also to draw attention to the problems and needs of carers themselves. It is also a call for increased educational activities and real assistance that can improve the quality of life and make it easier to care for loved ones with illnesses - says Igor Grzesiak, Vice President of the Board of the Institute for Patients' Rights and Health Education.
Teamwork is the key to success
In order to be able to support the patient, the carer himself also needs support, as well as the strength and knowledge necessary to fulfil this role. Where does he or she get it from? For almost 7 out of 10 carers (69%) one way of helping to care for a chronically ill or elderly person is to talk to relatives. It also happens that they contact people from similar experiments (43%). In addition, almost half of the carers (47%) use knowledge gained from online portals and 32% look at specialised literature -. according to the latest research, conducted as part of the Nutricia Foundation's 'Medical Nutrition - Your Meals in the Fight Against Disease' campaign.
Although carers try to further their own education in many areas, they also often need the support of professionals in caring for their loved one. 49% carers in Poland have used or are using expert assistance - including the assistance of a nurse (72%), physiotherapist (62%), psychologist (22%) or dietician (20%).
When I started looking after my mum on my own, I was worried that I wouldn't be able to cope. The doctor and also the nurse showed me how to operate the PEG-a (specialised access to the gastrointestinal tract that allows food to be fed directly into the stomach) respirator. Everything can be learned if you have a good teacher. I received valuable advice from other carers, as well as from the doctor and nurse from the nutritional clinic. Mum is under the constant care of a group of specialists - a speech therapist, a pulmonologist, a neurologist and Mr Jarek, our rehabilitation therapist. I also receive psychological support myself, which allows me to maintain balance, combine my many responsibilities and fulfil myself as a carer, as well as in all my other roles - mum, wife and sister. On the occasion of National Carers' Day, I wish every carer to find their soulmate, another carer, a person with whom they can exchange experiences, knowledge, advice. It is also very important to have the support of professionals, especially a psychologist, because if the carer takes care of himself, it will be easier for him to take care of the other person as well. - says Agnieszka Stemler, caring for her mother, who had a stroke.
If there was a possibility, 45% carers would like their wards to be able to benefit from psychological support. Many also depend on being able to be supported by a nurse or nurse practitioner (58%), as well as a physiotherapist (58%). Unfortunately, this is not always possible due to various constraints.
The campaign "Medical nutrition - Your meals in illness" supports carers on a daily basis
In the eighth edition of the campaign 'Medical nutrition - Your meals in illness', we decided to draw the public's attention to the fact that getting through a loved one's illness is a process that requires teamworka relay of sorts, where the carer at various stages can enlist the help not only of the immediate family, but also of an appropriate expert to provide comprehensive, specialised care for the patient.
However, we realise that this is not always possible, so as part of this year's campaign, we will be passing the symbolic 'baton' to experts from the interdisciplinary care team - a doctor, a dietician, a physiotherapist and a nutritionist - who will share their knowledge and professional experience on our @It'sMyCaregiver profile on Instagram. We will also continue to feature the stories of carers, reporting on their everyday life. In this way, everyone will be able to see what the life of a carer is like 'behind the scenes'. The aim of our activities will be to build awareness and public involvement in helping and supporting carers.
National Carer's Day was established in 2018 thanks to the involvement of eight patient organisations inspired by the 'Letter to a Carer' social action, run as part of the next edition of the 'Medical Nutrition - Your Meals in the Fight Against Illness' campaign. The organisations included: Institute for Patient Rights and Health Education, Polish Coalition of Oncology Patients Foundation, Mazovian Association of People with Parkinson's Disease, "OnkoCafe - Together Better" Foundation, EuropaColon Poland Foundation, Federation of Amazon Associations, Oncology Alivia Foundation and "Appetite for Life" Association.
[1]Opinion poll conducted 20.01-03.02.2023 by SW RESEARCH using the online interview method (CAWI) on a group of 1200 Poles, including approximately 50% carers/former carers of the elderly and sick.