Marie Curie survey highlights top concerns of public when it comes to caring for a terminally ill loved one

Management of a loved one’s pain, not having access to 24/7 care and strains on finances are top concerns UK people would have if faced with looking after a loved one with a terminal illness.

A new survey by Marie Curie, released to coincide with the launch of the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal, has revealed the top concerns people would have if they were faced with caring for a loved one with a terminal illness. Half (50%) of UK adults say that their loved one’s pain not being managed would be a top concern, followed closely by not having access to 24/7 care and support (44%).

The results also show that more than two in five (41%) say they would be concerned about the strains caring for a loved one would have on their finances. Further, nearly a quarter say they (22%) would be concerned about whether they would be able to take the time off work to care for a loved one.

Concern over the management of a loved one’s pain is particularly prevalent among older UK adults, with two thirds (67%) of those aged over 65, and three in five (61%) aged 55 – 64 citing it as a top concern, compared to 42% of 18 – 24 year olds. In contrast, younger respondents are more likely to be concerned about the strain on their finances, with half (52%) of 25 – 34 year olds saying this would be a top concern, compared to three in ten (31%) of those aged 65+. This was also a top concern for people of working age in general  While a fifth (22%) of older respondents (55 - 64 and 65+ year olds) say that a lack of information about their loved one’s condition would be a top concern; just over one in eight (13%) 18 – 24 year olds feel the same.

Across the UK there are some marked differences. Seven in ten (69%) respondents in Northern Ireland say that their loved one’s pain not being managed would be a top concern (highest in UK), compared to half (51%) of respondents in England, and more than two fifths  in Scotland (45%) and  Wales (42%). In contrast, the most selected concern for people in Wales would be about the strain on their finances (44%) and a quarter of respondents in Scotland (25%) would be concerned that they would feel isolated and lonely, compared to 22% in Wales, 18% in England and 13% in Northern Ireland.

Dr Jane Collins, Chief Executive, Marie Curie said: “Care from loved ones is vital for people who are living with a terminal illness and helps them to live well for as long as possible. However, so many of the carers we come into contact with tell us they have had little to no support, often risking their own mental and physical wellbeing and ending up in hospital themselves.

“We know that only five per cent of people want to be in hospital at the end of life and yet without that carer support, many more people who are terminally ill would experience emergency admissions and spend their last weeks and days in hospital. What is clear, is that if we don’t recognise and support carers, there will be severe consequences for people who are terminally ill, their loved ones, and the NHS. We need to get this right as a society.”

Other key findings include:

The management of their loved one’s pain (50%), not having access to 24/7 care and support (44%) and strains on finances (41%) would be top concerns for a noticeably larger proportion of UK adults than each of the other potential areas tested. Following these top three, around one in five (22%) say that not being able to take time off work would be a top concern.

Older UK adults are more likely than their younger counterparts to say that if they had a loved one with a terminal illness, they would be concerned about not having access to 24/7 care and support. This is selected as a top concern by around three in five respondents aged between 55 – 64 (59%) and aged 65+ (62%), compared to only a quarter (26%) of 18 – 24 year olds.

Only three in ten (31%) adults aged 65+ would be concerned about a strain on finances, while this was the most selected concern for 25 – 34 year olds (52%).

The poll, conducted by ComRes for Marie Curie, is revealed as the charity launches its annual Great Daffodil Appeal. The charity’s biggest fundraising campaign, which takes place throughout March, asks people to wear a daffodil pin to support the appeal. Funds raised help Marie Curie Nurses to provide more care to people living with a terminal illness, in their own homes and in the charity’s hospices.

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