According to a survey commissioned by CQC of people who use the websites Mumsnet and Gransnet, 8 out of 10 users identify choosing care as a major source of stress.
CQC’s survey of users of the two websites found that choosing care for a parent or other older relative can be more stressful than divorce, separation, choosing a school, getting married or buying a house. 84 per cent of those who took part described choosing care for a parent or other older relative as ‘very stressful’ or ‘quite stressful’, ranking it higher than many of life’s most stressful events.
Carers UK has estimated that 2.4 million carers are part of the ‘sandwich generation’ – those with dual care responsibilities as they juggle care for older relatives and young children.
These findings come as CQC introduces ratings that are meant to give clearer guidance for those choosing social care services.
76 per cent of people who took part in the survey said they would have more confidence in a service that they knew had been rated Good or Outstanding. 86 per cent said that having an independent body that they could share concerns with would give them more confidence in care.
