Social Security Experience Panels: Carers with English as a second language

What support was used?

Many participants described using family and friends for help with care needs, and highlighted that people within their community care for each other.

Quote from participant:

“Now, see if I need any extra care, right, see where I stay? I just knock on the window and they’ll come across. [laughter] It’s my brother that stays across the road from me.”

This support often included a reliance on their children when participants did interact with social security or other organisations. For example, help with translating material, handling paperwork and making or answering phone calls.

However, many participants noted that friends and family are not always available for support. For example, children may not be able or have time to help as much as is needed. A few described this as contributing to loneliness and isolation for older people.

Quote from interpreter:

“The children are working, and the families are working and they can’t spare time to take [their parents] to the [day care] centre, or take them back or whatever. So, for that reason, some people are not able to come out, they just stay in the house.”

Many Punjabi-, Urdu- and Hindi-speaking participants attended a local day-care centre for community support. Similarly, Cantonese-speaking participants attended a local lunch-club.

These community centres were described as useful because they helped to alleviate loneliness, were good sources of information, and did not have any language barriers to participation.

Quote from interpreter:

“These centres are beneficial for them because of the language. Everybody is from an ethnic minority and they speak the language, they know the activities there are always in their own language, so that’s more beneficial for them.”

However, these centres were described as underfunded and lacking resources. For example, the centre used by Punjabi-, Urdu- and Hindi-speaking participants could not afford to run transport for people, meaning that some in the community were unable to attend.

Some participants mentioned getting support from Citizens Advice. A few described this as being complicated and hard to fit in around caring responsibilities.

Quote from participant:

“Citizens Advice will fill out forms for you, not a problem. But you’ve to go and stand in a queue - they don’t give an appointment. You’ve got to be there at half past eight in the morning for a three o’clock turn. And who’s going to look after the [cared for person] while you stand in the queue for six hours?”

A few participants mentioned feeling that they were left without support. One commented that she felt she was struggling emotionally with being a carer.

Quote from participant:

“I’m not ashamed, I need emotional support – even someone to come out and stay with us for 5 minutes, 10 minutes, an hour – ‘How are you getting on?’ – that speaks volumes.”