Relatives who care for people with terminal cancer are putting in nearly 70 hours of care a week on average, according to a "landmark" study published today.
Researchers at three universities – two in the UK and one in the Netherlands – analysed responses from some 1,500 people who had cared for deceased cancer patients.
The hours include social and emotional support as well as practical and personal care and health care tasks.
The survey, published in the journal Palliative Medicine, also found that carers paid about £370 out in expenses over the last three months of the patient’s life.
Led by Manchester University, UK, researchers, it also involved researchers at Newcastle University and the University of Groningen, Netherlands.
Researcher Professor Gunn Grande, professor of palliative care, said: “This study for the first time quantifies the valuable hours carers give to their relatives and friends nationally in the final three months of life.
"Our figure of 69.5 hours a week is indicative of the huge contribution they make. This is a lot higher than the hours of care giving reported in the population in general and comes at a great cost to carers’ own psychological and physical health.
“Carers are a huge resource and provide vital support to people at the end of their life.
"Community health and social care staff are simply unable to deliver care round the clock care, which is why we need to invest in carers too.
“Carers need both support that gives them the know-how to look after the person who is ill and support to preserve their own health and well-being."
Broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby, chair of the Dimbleby Cancer Care Research Fund, said: “The research by Professor Grande and her team illuminates a really grave issue. I have had personal experience of caring for someone with terminal cancer. It is draining in every way.
"Building on research like this, the work we support at our cancer centre in the Guy’s Cancer Centre helps to ease the burden on patients and carers in a wide variety of ways – information, psychological support, complementary therapies and benefits advice."
* Meanwhile some cancer patients are set to lose large amounts of income from benefits, it was claimed today.
Many patients are placed in a work-related activity group – and are expected to undertake training so they can work in the future.
According to Macmillan Cancer Support, some 2,680 people with cancer will now lose £1,500 a year.
The contributions of family care-giving at end of life: A national post-bereavement census survey of cancer carers’ hours of care and expenditures Palliative Medicine 3 April 2017
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