Hidden Carers Unheard Voices
Informal caring within the Gypsy/Traveller community in Scotland
There is little research evidence directly relating to the experience of Gypsy/Travellers in accessing social care services but in 2006 Cemlyn suggested that Gypsy/Travellers “with health problems may find that their cultural needs, such as for the involvement of multiple family members in their care, are not easily
accommodated.” 7 Our findings echo this suggestion and further indicate that a lack of recognition and understanding of Gypsy/Traveller culture often results in inadequate responses. Families often reported that they felt like they were being blamed for causing their own problems, as if it was their ethnicity that was the
problem, rather an inappropriate service or lack of flexibility.