Care ethics and the payment of family carers: implications for occupational therapy

Abstract

It is increasingly recognised that the carers of people with severe disability suffer from high levels of burden. The purpose of this paper is to argue that payment of such family carers is a human rights issue that can be articulated in terms of care ethics. Legislative force is being added to routine expressions of concern and courts are showing an increasing willingness to articulate the experiences of carers in the language of fundamental human rights. The application of court rulings have enabled particular groups of carers to be paid, and these carers have gone on to develop an effective practice of care without the usual symptoms of stress. This paper provides the results of an ethnographic study of three families of adults with severe brain injury and describes the development of a conceptual framework for care practice. In the process, it demonstrates that excellent outcomes can be achieved for the disabled person in a cost effective manner. The framework is congruent with occupational therapy philosophy and occupational therapists are well placed to support the family carers in terms of training and research.