A BME Carers Perspective

1
A BME Carers Perspective

• Inequalities facing BME carers in addition to ALL
  carers
• Health inequalities
• Financial inequalities
• Communication barriers
• Political inequalities
• Access to Leisure
• Social inequalities

2
A BME Carers Perspective

• Health Inequalities
• We know certain health conditions affect the BME
  communities more than in some other communities.
• Culturally appropriate services are needed.
  Without these there is a higher impact on BME
  Carers
• Carers from BME communities present issues or
  needs in a physical way rather than emotional(a
  carer will say that their back hurts rather than
  they need a rest or they need emotional or social
  support)
• Language barriers can make it more difficult for
  people to describe their situation.

3
A BME Carers Perspective

• Financial Inequalities
• A higher percentage of people from BME
  communities live in poverty. Carers from BME
  communities do not claim benefits for cultural
  reasons
• BME carers are quite often not part of the
  mainstream economic system (e.g. worked in the
  mills or factories or catering trades without
  access to benefits and pensions etc)

4
A BME Carers Perspective

• Communication Obvious language barriers
• Differences in language and concepts lead to
  misunderstandings
• Some words (cancer, schizophrenia, mental health)
  are difficult to translate or use freely
• Difficulties in language and cultural
  communication are a two way street
• Carers are a resource that is under-used by
  professionals who dont always listen, especially
  where cultural differences apply.
• Sometimes there are unrealistic expectations due
  to people being misinformed.

5
A BME Carers Perspective

• Access to Leisure
• Access to leisure facilities is an obvious issue
  BUT
• In some BME communities attitudes to leisure and
  exercise are different (Prayer and community over
  personal fitness)
• Attitudes to health and looking after yourself
  may be different in different communities.
• Attitudes to independence may be different
• Cultural norms may prevent someone going out on
  their own to access facilities (single sex)

6
A BME Carers Perspective

• Social Inequalities
• Again well documented for the BME and other
  communities but also complicate the lives for BME
  carers
• Different attitudes to disability and
  independence
• Take up of services can be affected by pride to
  remain independent, public criticism of over
  demand on the state, and community views on
  shame and family honour
• Assumptions from professions that their
  community will meet their needs.

7
A BME Carers Perspective

• Social Inequalities continued
• Assumption that BME carers will want to attend a
  group for their own community
• There is expectation from within communities that
  people will use culturally accepted remedies and
  religious activities.
• Impact on carers to either
• stay within the cultural norms and become
  isolated or
• Come out of the cultural box and reject the norms
  (with consequences)

8
A BME Carers Perspective

• Political Inequalities
• BME communities are supportive but services see
  them as passive
• Attitudes from Staff
• Treating everyone the same (this can lead to a
  colour-blind approach and needs from cultural
  differences being missed.
• Limited choices and no culturally appropriate
  services Be grateful you have anything offered
  at all

9
A BME Carers Perspective

• The Way Forward
• Partnership working with BME carers at all levels
  and putting them
• in the picture