Carers Week highlights need for more support for carers

Categories: Community Engagement.

The ‘Prepared to care?’ report showed alarming percentages of carers were not prepared to take on their caring role, and that personal relationships, careers, finances and health and wellbeing has suffered since becoming a carer.

Becoming a carer has cause 92% of respondents to feel more stressed and 61% have suffered from depression because of their caring role.

Half of carers have had to use their savings to buy essentials such as heating and food, 26% have taken out a loan or fallen into debt and 60% reported a reduction in income because of becoming a carer.

Breakdown of relationships were reported by 42% of carers and 61% said they found it difficult to maintain friendships.

These are just some of the issues facing the 6.5 million carers in the UK. And while some support is available, 81% said they were not aware of that support and therefore didn’t access it.

Census data has revealed that middle-aged women take on the main responsibilities for caring and that there has been a surge in the number of older carers.

Carers provided the following recommendations:

  • Better public understanding and recognition of carers.
  • Access to information and the right support from the beginning.
  • Professionals understanding the role of carers and sharing information, decision making and planning with them.
  • Access to high quality practical and emotional support and information as well as breaks from caring.
  • Flexible working practices and understanding from employers. 
  • Financial support and a fair and easy to navigate welfare system. 

During Carers Week a special Question Time event was held on Wednesday and MPs showed their support for the awareness week. 

Carers Trust has recently launched a partnership with O2 Health and carers can now get an exclusive 10% discount, via Carers Enterprises, on the new mobile care service, Help at Hand from O2 Health.

Young carers were a focus of the week, with calls for changes to the law for young carers and evidence that young carers’ general health may be being affected by their caring role.

In Scotland, the Big Lottery Fund announced £20 million to help Scottish Carers, and health, social care and third sector staff will now get new guidance to identify carers and ensure they get the support they need, and a volunteering database for carers has been launched.

And in Northern Ireland support for carers was highlighted as one of the biggest issues requiring attention.

The week was supported and promoted by many associated charities and organisations, including Alzheimer’s Society, Marie Curie Cancer Care, Carers UK, Carers Trust, Skills for Care, The Royal College of General Practitioners, and many more, including us at ehospice.

The Caring About Carers Awards are currently open, with nominations being taken until 31 July 2013. The awards aim to recognise the work of GPs and GP practices in supporting unpaid carers across the UK.

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