Carers might not recieve support due to the lack of government funding
One in three carers have to care alone, with no help, which shows that, as a society, we have much more to do to ensure that this normal part of life does not end up pushing families into crisis.
Research shows that a third of those caring for older, disabled or ill family members receive no financial support.
The survey involved 3,000 carers across the UK and it exposed that many carers are struggling on their own and as a result it's taking its toll on their health, family finances and careers. The charity has predicted that if they do nothing about the situation, all of the carers across the UK will soon hit breaking point. The new government cuts can effectively ruin any progress made over the last decade by the work charities have put in to improve carers’ lives.
On the 1st of May 2013, a conference was held that brought all policy makers, front line NHS and social care workers, voluntary groups and carers to explore the possibilities to get them through this tough economic time. Reverend Mary Webster gave up her career as a reverend to care for her parents and later established the National Council for Single Women and her Dependants in 1965 which later became Carers UK.
Heléna Herklots, Chief Executive of Carers UK said ‘When Mary Webster gave up her career to care for her parents; she felt her caring was not seen or valued. In 1963 she began campaigning for support for carers – rights, respite, financial help and advice. Through five decades rights and entitlements have been won across employment, care, pensions, and benefits. Yet for all this, fifty years on, many carers today would still recognise and identify with the situation that Mary experienced – being forced to give up their jobs and facing isolation, financial hardship and poor health as a result of caring for older or disabled loved ones.’
Carers UK say that the figures set out challenges for both the government and society. The conference examined how to deliver affordable, good quality care services for carers. Minister of Care and Support Norman Lamb MP was at the event and the broadcaster and commentator was Fiona Phillips, who herself gave up her job to care for her father.
The statistics show that almost a third of respondents to the Carers UK, who are classed as full time carers responded with the harsh reality that they get no practical support with caring. The survey also showed that 4 out of 10 carers were finding themselves in debt because of the extra costs and the inability to work due to caring full time. A poll commissioned by Carers UK earlier this year revealed that a staggering 2.3 million adults had to drop out of work to care for their disabled or seriously ill loved ones and over half of these adults had an average of 5 years out of work as a result.