Survey reveals that one in three on farms is disabled
Also, one in five farm households has a disabled family member, which has consequences for the operation of the farm and family income.
The study, carried out jointly by Teagasc/NDA/UCD, has found that 26,000 people living on farms in this country have a disability which impedes the operation of the farm and affects income.
Ten percent of dairy farmers, and 37.7% of cattle farmers, have a disability. In their summary of the findings, John McNamara, Teagasc specialist advisor, and Dr Dermot Ruane, UCD, said there was a low uptake among farmers of support services. Mr McNamara and Dr Ruane also said that “supports and services for people with disability in farming must be tailored to suit a person’s individual needs”.
Farm families with a disabled member require a range of supports, including assistance with farm operations and care provision.
Disabilities are less common among operators of intensive enterprises, such as dairying, sheep and tillage, and more common among livestock and cattle-rearing families.
Of the health-related disabilities reported in the study 73% were caused by arthritis and cardiovascular conditions, some of which can be prevented by changes in farming methods and lifestyle.
Farmers are slow to avail of available services. While 26% of the farmers were aware of support services, these were found to be availed of by only 7.5% of disabled farmers, though there was a higher uptake by spouses and family members.
The report also noted that a recent study conducted by the Health Promotion Department, at NUI Galway, concluded that farmers in Ireland have a negative health profile. The Health Promotion Department found that just 29% of farmers took regular exercise and said that confusion may exist among farmers as to the difference between physical activity and aerobic fitness.
The Teagasc/NDA/UCD study has concluded that services, tailored to farmers’ needs, are necessary to support farmers with disabilities.
