CareLine: Spring 2016

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E E ke me

May to July 2016

R ta e s F ea Pl

Do Yo Look u After Someo ne?

CareLine The magazine for unpaid carers in East Sussex

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Also availabl

Young Adult Carers

Carers Week 4

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Carers Visit Westminster 18

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Contents 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

National Carers Strategy Carers Week Carers Week Volunteers Week Patient Participation Group Awareness Week Coastal Wellbeing - WRAP Courses Carers Groups & Clinics Eastbourne, Hailsham, & Seaford area Carers Groups & Clinics High Weald, Lewes, & Havens area Carers Groups & Clinics Hastings & Rother area Carers Toolkit & ICE Project Updates Young Adult Carers AgeUK - Scams Prevention East Sussex Better Together - Accountable Care Green Open Spaces for Health Carers’ Voices Update Carers Visit Westminster Carers Visit Westminster: Peter’s Story

New! Content Flags In response to recent feedback, we’ve added a number of ‘flags’ or icons to help you to find the content you want, and to link in useful services which can help you to take advantage of the opportunities available.

From the ‘Have Your Say’ flag to indicate surveys and other ways of makng your views known, to the ‘Flexi Telecheck’ flag to suggest where you might be able to utilise that service to help you to attend an event, we hope that this new feature will help you to find the things you need more easily.

Flexi Telecheck

Have Your Say

Carers Card

Healthcare Appointments Grant

Carer Training Opportunity

You may benefit from exclusive discounts through use of your Carers Card.

Event / Date for your Diary

Mobile Scannable Content

2 Cover Photo: Debbie Reid

National Carers Strategy Carers freely give their time and energy to support friends or family members and many rightly take pride in providing essential support for those close to them. Caring for others should not be to the detriment of the carer’s own health and wellbeing and carers can receive support in a number of ways – including from social services, the NHS, or the benefit system.

The Department of Health thinks that it needs a new strategy for carers setting out how it can do more. One which reflects their lives now, the health and financial concerns they have, and gives them the support they need to live well whilst caring for a family member or friend.

Your chance to tell the Government how to improve support for unpaid carers To help it develop the strategy, the Department of Health wants to hear from carers, those who have someone care for them, business, social workers, NHS staff and other professionals that support carers.

It is vital that as many carers as possible respond to this call for evidence, so that the Government can make informed decisions when deciding how to support unpaid carers in the future.

The survey is expected to take 30-45 minutes to complete online, and is open for responses until 30th June 2016.

If you have any questions about this call for evidence, please contact the Department of Health at carers@dh.gsi.gov.uk

“Carers make an invaluable contribution to society. I have met many brilliant carers who have told me it can be a struggle to keep all the plates spinning and make time for themselves.

Through the Government’s new carers’ strategy, we want to support carers to do the best for their loved ones and have a life of their own beyond caring.”

-- Alistair Burt Minister for Community and Social Care

http://bit.ly/carers-strategy National Carers Strategy Map credit: England_location_map.svg, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12807404

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6th - 12th June 2016

Building on the success of Carers Week 2015 in East Sussex, services that provide support to carers across the county are working together again to make this a very special week in 2016.

Information Stands At a range of venues throughout the week details can be found on the Carers Week calendar which can be found on Care for the Carers website at http://cftc.org.uk/carersweek

Building on the theme of Carer Friendly Communities we will be:• raising awareness of unpaid carers in communities and with key decision makers • identifying and supporting carers who are not accessing services at present • bringing carers together to gain mutual support and have fun

Things to look out for…

During Carers week a number of activities and events will be taking place across the county.

Carers Scratch Cards A fun way of identifying new carers who can scratch off a star and send their details by freepost to Care for the Carers to access information or support.

A Care for the Carers information stand during Carers Week 2015 Carers Challenge An opportunity for carers groups and activities to open their doors to key decision makers such as MP’s, Councillors and Chief Executives. We hope that this will enable them to consider how, within their own role, they can make a difference to unpaid carers in the county.

If you would like to take part in the challenge please contact Debbie Reid at info@cftc.org.uk

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Carers Week

Carer Awareness Training Free training will be available in three areas during Carers Week. If you are a paid worker, volunteer or community member who would like to know more about unpaid caring in East Sussex and how you can make a difference on a day to day basis why not come along.

Training is being held on the following dates:• Monday 6th June in Peacehaven • Wednesday 8th June in Hailsham • Friday 10th June in Hastings For more information or to book a place please contact Carole Gregory on 01323 738390 or email info@cftc.org.uk

East Sussex Carers Card Carers and businesses will be encouraged to sign up to the East Sussex Carers Card at all events and activities. For information, or to apply for a Carers Card, email info@cftc.org.uk call 01323 738390 or fill in an application form on line at http://cftc.org.uk/carerscard

Activities and Events A wide variety of opportunities for carers to meet and have fun during Carers Week can be found on the Carers Week Calendar on Care for the Carers Website cftc.org.uk/carersweek

Bluebell Railway Carers Trip Care for the Carers is organising a trip for carers and the people they care for. This has kindly been funded through a donation from Sussex Women of the Year, who would like to offer this opportunity to those who are looking after someone with dementia.

The visit to the Bluebell Railway, including a journey on a train and a ploughman’s lunch, will take place on Thursday 9th June. Places will be limited so please book early.

If you would like further information or to join us please call Carole Gregory Tel: 01323 738390 or email caroleg@cftc.org.uk

Pampering at Boots in Eastbourne Arndale Staff at Boots in Eastbourne are offering a number of opportunities for carers around Carers Week including pampering sessions ‘Look Good, Feel Good’ and an invitation for carers to come along and talk to a pharmacist about ‘What Boots can do to Support you as a Carer’.

If you do not have internet access and want to know what is going on in your area please call Care for the Carers on 01323 738390 and we can send you a copy of the latest information.

Carers Week

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Have you thought about volunteering?

Volunteers’ Week is an annual celebration of the fantastic contribution millions of volunteers make across the UK – and it’s taking place from the 1-12 June 2016 - the latter half coinciding with Carers Week, which runs from the 6th to the 12th of June.

Volunteers Week is co-ordinated by NCVO, and provides an opportunity for organisations to thanks their volunteers and to also highlight volunteering opportunities.

Volunteering is a ‘two way thing’, it can be as beneficial for those doing the volunteering as it is for those who are receiving the support.

Volunteers’ Week: The Big Celebration

Care for the Carers are looking for ‘Carer Ambassadors’ – volunteers to help us raise carer awareness in the local community. All too often carers do not recognise that they are carers, they are a family, friend or neighbour just ‘doing what you do’ however without information and support caring can be a lot more challenging.

Over 21 million people volunteer in the UK at least once a year and this contributes an estimated £23.9bn to the UK economy. Many charities and organisations could not be effective without the support of volunteers.

This year Volunteers’ Week has been extended to include the Patron’s Lunch on 12 June. This celebrates Her Majesty the Queen’s lifetime of service to more than 600 charities and organisations to which The Queen acts as Patron, on the occasion of her 90th birthday.

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Volunteers Week

There are many ways you can support charities through volunteering. Most charities are looking to recruit volunteers, why not think about what you could do, consider what time you have to give and the skills and abilities you could put to good use for the benefit of others.

There are many ways you could get involved as an Ambassador and it can be flexible to fit in with the time you have to give. Training and support will be available.

Get involved! a If you would like to find out more, or just have a chat about potential volunteering opportunities, contact Carole Gregory on 01323 738390, or by email at caroleg@cftc.org.uk

PPG Awareness Week Patient Participation Groups (PPGs) have an important role in gathering feedback about patients experience of services provided by their GP Practices, and to offer suggestions about how services could be more effective or accessible for patients.

Did you know that GP practices are now required to have a PPG and to make reasonable efforts for this to be representative of the practice population? 1 in 8 adults in UK are carers, so it is important that carers are involved with their PPG. If the person they care for belongs to a different GP practice, the carer is also allowed to be part of that PPG. Healthwatch East Sussex have a patient participation support worker, Kate Richmond, whose role is to develop the Healthwatch East Sussex relationship with local PPGs, providing development support to the PPG and GP Practice, and to enable PPGs to link into wider changes in the local health & care system, notably East Sussex Better Together.

Being a member “of your practice PPG really does allow you to make a contribution to policy making, and particularly to those policies regarding carers.

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-- Jill Batchelor Carer Representitive

Are you interested in finding out more about your PPG? Ask at your GP practice. You should be able to get information by phone, in person, or the Practice website. Most have a patient group page – often called “Have Your Say”. If it is difficult to get information from your surgery, please contact Kate Richmond at Healthwatch East Sussex. on 07909 253678 or 01323 403590 or by email at kate.richmond@healthwatcheastsussex.co.uk Care for the Carers is working to ensure that every PPG includes a carer representitive. If you are a carer who is already on your local PPG, please let us know by contacting us on 01323 738390 or by email at info@cftc.org.uk

Find out more East Sussex Community Voice have produced a “PPG Bitesize“ video which is a great introduction to Patient Participation Groups, how they work, what’s involved, and how you can join.

You can watch it at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GhqhH7rMCk, or by using a smartphone to scan the QR code to the right.

PPG Awareness Week

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Wellness Recovery Action Plan

WRAP Courses If you are an unpaid carer, supporting someone who couldn’t manage without your help, attending a WRAP course for carers will provide you with the opportunity to explore safe and simple tools that you can use to maintain your wellbeing and support you when you are facing challenges. WRAP provides you with a framework which can support you in every part of your life.

Two further WRAP for Carers courses starting in June in Newhaven and September in Bexhill open to any carer:

NEWHAVEN WRAP for Carers Venue: Hillcrest Centre, Hillcrest Road, Newhaven BN9 9EA

There will be a Saturday WRAP course for carers who juggle work, study or other commitments during the week starts on 7 May 2016, meeting once a month for three sessions:

EASTBOURNE WRAP for Carers Saturday Workshops Venue: Brightview Centre, 6 Saffrons Road, Eastbourne BN21 1DG Start date: Saturday, 7 May 2016 Session dates: 7 May, 11 June, 16 July Session time: 10:00am to 2:30pm

Start date: Thursday, 16 June 2016 Session dates: 16 June, 23 June, [1 week break], 7 July, 14 July, 21 July, 28 July Session time: 10:00am to 1:00pm

BEXHILL WRAP for Carers Venue: Bexhill Your Way, 73A London Road, Bexhillon-Sea TN39 3LB Start date: Tuesday, 20 September 2016 Session dates: 20 September, 27 September, 4 October, 11 October, 18 October, 25 October Session time: 2:00pm to 4:30pm

If you have any questions or need more information please contact one of the WRAP facilitators: Molly Booth is on 07507 734 370 or molly@coastalwellbeing.co.uk Lucy Tucknott is on 07598 323 254 or lucy@coastalwellbeing.co.uk You can book on to any of these courses by contacting one of the facilitators, or by downloading a booking form from their website at www.coastalwellbeing.co.uk/wrap-for-carers

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WRAP Courses

Eastbourne, Hailsham, & Seaford May - July 2016 Carers Clinics 1st & 3rd Tuesdays

Every Wednesday

Seaside Medical Centre, Eastbourne

9am - 12 noon

Enys Road Surgery, Eastbourne

1pm - 5pm

Sovereign Ward, Eastbourne DGH

1pm - 5pm

1st & 3rd Wednesdays Mental Health Unit, Eastbourne DGH

1pm - 5pm

3rd Thursdays

Herstmonceux Health Centre

1pm - 5pm

2nd Fridays

Downlands Surgery, Polegate

2pm - 5pm

Carers Advice and Information Groups 3rd Wednesdays

Church Bailey Court, Pevensey

10am - 1pm

4th Thursdays

St Barnabas Church Hall, Langney

10am- 12noon

Mental Health Carers Groups 4th Wednesdays

Brightview, Saffrons Road, Eastbourne 2pm - 5pm

Wellbeing Groups 3rd Tuesdays

The House Project Centre, Peacehaven, 10am-12noon

1st Wednesdays

Inglenook, Market Street, Hailsham

2nd Wednesdays

Brightview, Saffrons Road, Eastbourne 10am-12noon

10:30am-12noon

Dementia Carer Support Groups 2nd Mondays

Milton Grange, Eastbourne

1:30pm - 3:30pm

2nd Tuesdays

St James’ Trust, Seaford

2pm - 4pm

Eastbourne, Hailsham, and Seaford

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High Weald, Lewes and Havens May - July 2016 Carers Clinics 2nd Tuesdays

Quayside Medical Practice, Newhaven

9am - 5pm

Bird in Eye Surgery, Uckfield Hospital

2pm - 5pm

1st Wednesdays

Buxted Medical Centre

1pm - 5pm

3rd Wednesdays

East Hoathly Medical Centre

1pm - 4pm

1st Thursdays

Heathfield Community Health Centre

2pm - 5pm

4th Thursdays

Manor Oak Surgery, Horam

2pm - 5pm

4th Fridays

Ringmer Surgery

9am - 12noon

Newick Health Centre

1pm - 5pm

Carers Advice and Information Groups 1st Tuesdays

St. Mary’s Room, Ringmer Village Hall

10am - 12noon

3rd Tuesdays

Forest Row Community Centre

10am - 12 noon

3rd Thursday

Heathfield Community Health Centre

2pm - 4pm

Dementia Carer Support Groups 4th Wednesdays

Horder Centre, Crowborough

2pm - 4pm

Wellbeing Groups:

Information and Advice Groups:

Regular informal drop-in groups for all carers, with input at some groups from Carer Support Workers.

Regular meetings for all carers, facilitated by Carer Support Workers. The first half of the meeting gives time to have a cuppa and a chat with other carers, and the second half has a guest speaker who brings useful information and advice.

10 High Weald, Lewes, and Havens

Hastings and Rother May - July 2016 Carers Clinics 1st Mondays

Shankhill Surgery, Hastings

2pm - 5pm

4th Wednesdays

Ferry Road, Rye

2pm - 4:30pm

1st & 3rd Fridays

Battle Health Centre

9am - 12 noon

Bexhill Health Centre

2pm - 4:30pm

Carers Advice and Information Groups 2nd Tuesdays

Carillon Cottage, Wadhurst

10am - 12noon

4th Tuesdays

Emmanuel Centre, Battle

10am - 12noon

2nd Wednesdays

The Bridge, Priory Road, Ore

10am - 12noon

Mental Health Carers Groups Last Saturdays

Carisbrooke House, St. Leonards

10am - 12:30pm

Centenary House, Bexhill

10am - 12noon

Wellbeing Groups 4th Thursdays

Dementia Carer Support Groups Last Mondays

St. Barnabas’ Church, Hastings

2pm - 4pm

3rd Wednesdays

St Mark’s Church Hall, Little Common

2pm - 4pm

Carer’s Clinics:

Mental Health Carers Support Groups:

One-to-one pre-booked appointments with a Carer Support Worker, to listen to your worries or concerns, and give advice, information and support to carers.

Regular meetings for carers of people with mental health issues, facilitated by Carer Support Workers.

To book, call Care for the Carers on 01323 738390

Hastings and Rother

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Carers Toolkit The Carers Toolkit is a training programme designed by carers, for carers. Sessions are free to carers and take place around the county.

Carers can choose to attend one or a series of training modules on different subjects which aim to equip them with skills and information on a wide range of caring issues, improve health and wellbeing and ensure carers have improved knowledge of the support services available to them.

The new Toolkit programme will run from May to September this year and, following feedback from carers who have taken part in previous Toolkit sessions we are adding some exciting new workshops as well as re-running popular sessions such as Mindfulness, First Aid, Money Matters and Legal Matters.

Full information on the topics, venues, dates, times etc. will follow soon. To receive your FREE Carers Toolkit information booklet and application form, please contact Hazel Ociepka on 01323 738360 or send her an email at hazelo@cftc.org.uk

ICE Project Do you support someone who has mental health issues?

Do you think that getting more information would help you?

Do you have questions about the diagnosis and what help or treatment is available?

Do you have questions about what you can do to help?

ICE is running a free information course – 10.15am to 3.30pm on Saturday 14th and 21st May, 4th and 18th June, at: Highlight House, 8 St. Leonards Road, Eastbourne, BN21 3UH You are welcome to attend just some of the sessions if you can’t make them all.

For more details, or to book a place, please contact one of the facilitators.

Alan 01273 617100 / 07435 786182 alan.icepro@btconnect.com Jane 07483 133543 jane.icepro@btconnect.com

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Carers Toolkit Courses / ICE Project

Are you a carer aged 17 - 25 years?

Did you know that we can support you?

Do you have ideas about how you would like to be supported?

Care for the Carers supports adult carers of all ages, and has recently been working with young adult carers to improve how it meets their needs.

Consultation workshops have been taking place to hear the views of young adult carers, to find out what works well and not so well, and gather ideas about how they would like Care for the Carers to support them in the future.

Young Adult Carers

“Exploring What’s Possible” Workshops have taken place ‘Exploring What’s Possible’, covering options about employment, training, education, and access to Carer’s Trust Grants.

Young adult carers are also being supported to have a carers assessment, as many are unaware that they are entitled to one.

In March, a group of young adult carers enjoyed a visit to Shaw Harley Davidson, and they have shared lots of ideas about fundraising to support future fun activities.

You can now text us!

Young adult carers told us that they didn’t like having to call or email Care for the Carers when they needed support, so an immediate change that this feedback prompted was for Care for the Carers to introduce a text number which carers can use to get in touch.

Once young adult carers have made contact, they can be invited to join the Facebook page which includes details of young adult carers group meetings and provides a shared space to connect with others who are in similar situations to them.

Get in touch!

To find out more about support available for young adult carers from Care for the Carers, or to give your views about how they support young adult carers in the future, text 07860 077300, call 01323 738390, or email info@cftc.org.uk. Phone lines are open from 8am to 8pm on Mondays and Fridays, and 9am to 5pm on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Young Adult Carers 13

Scams Prevention Age UK East Sussex, supported by the Edna Johnson Will Trust and the Police & Crime Commissioner, are working with Trading Standards to deliver a project across East Sussex supporting older people (over the age of 50) who have been, or who are at risk of being, the victim of a scam.

We will visit groups and individuals who feel they would like more information about the different kinds of scams and what can be put in place to prevent them being caught up in a scam. We will also visit people who have been scammed to support them to move forward and regain lost confidence.

If you would like any further information regarding the scams intervention project please contact Julie Abson on 07850 987133 or email julie.abson@ ageukeastsussex.org.uk

Did you know...

1 in 12 people have fallen victim to a scam Scams costs the UK roughly £10 billion each year Anyone can be a scam victim, regardless of age, gender, education or economic background The National Trading Standards Scams Team project has revealed scam victims as young as 19 years old; however, the average age of victims is around 75 years old as criminals tend to prey on older and often more vulnerable members of society Scam victims might not always admit (or even be aware) that they are a victim of a scam Scammers are often organised, predatory criminals who gain trust to exploit and steal money Scams come in many forms for example; • Mail • Telephone • Email • Doorstep crime

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Accountable Care What is ‘Accountable Care’?

What happens now?

Increasingly, around the world, health and care commissioners are starting to pay for services based on patient and service user ‘outcomes’ (or results), meaning they pay more for preventing ill health and promoting independence and wellbeing.

The next stage of East Sussex Better Together (ESBT) is to explore in detail the different options available to us and to come up with a proposal of what ‘accountable care’ could look like for a large part of East Sussex that we can share widely with anyone who is interested in our plans.

This type of approach is called ‘accountable care’. In some places this way of working has been developed so there is just one organisation that holds the funds for both health and care, and provides the services for the local population. In other examples there are a range of different organisations, but the important difference to our current arrangements is that they are working together with shared goals and are encouraged to focus on positive results for patients and service users, not just volume of activity.

We think that accountable care could help us to transform health and care in East Sussex. Although there are examples from around the world we can draw on, we believe we will need to create a bespoke solution or solutions for East Sussex that meets the particular needs of our local communities.

We will be talking to a wide range of stakeholders over the coming months to find out their views on what ‘accountable care’ should deliver, and how we can work together to improve health outcomes for the people of East Sussex.

For more information on accountable care visit the ESBT website at http://bit.ly/1XxseOS, or by scanning the QR Code here with a smartphone.

If you do not have access to the internet, you can contact Vicky Smith (Accountable Care Strategic Development Manager) on 01273 482036, or the East Sussex Better Together Programme Office on 01273 403649 for more information.

Accountable Care 15

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Carers’ Voices Update Carers Voices Representatives

Small Grants for Carers

Carers Voices Representatives from across the county have been meeting to explore how best to ensure carers views and experiences continue to contribute to, and influence, decision making around issues that impact on carers lives.

Small Grants for Carers was formally known as the Carers Voices Group Budget.

Applications are for up to a maximum of £500 once a year and grants are allocated with the aim of enabling a group or organisation to start, improve or develop services which directly benefit carers.

This could include things like:• •

Carer Representatives meet to discuss carer involvement in decision making. One Carer Rep attended the meeting via Skype Care for the Carers have implemented an engagement and membership review which will assist in this process and an update will be included in future editions of CareLine, through social media and on Care for the Carers website.

If you would like to know more about opportunities to get your views heard contact Teresa or Debbie by email at info@cftc.org.uk or call 01323 738390.

• • •

•

Resources for an existing group such as books, music, craft materials, tablets Start-up costs for a group (advertising, venue hire, one-off refreshments) Promotional materials such as leaflets/flyers Speakers/trainers or training course Costs to meet additional needs (such as travel for a disabled person, hearing loop rental, interpreting, childcare) Expansion of an existing service to meet additional demand

If you, or someone, you know, would like to make an application you can find out more and apply online at http://cftc.org.uk/smallgrants

Carers’ Voices Update

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Carers visit Westminster

On Tuesday 15th Match 2016, eight carers from across East Sussex travelled up to Westminster to talk to local MPs about the reality of being an unpaid carer. The group were accompanied by Care for the Carers’ CEO, Jennifer Twist, and Strategic Partnerships Manager Teresa Flower. Tamsin Peart, East Sussex County Council Strategic Commissioning Manager (Carers) and Barry Atkins, Head of Strategic Commissioning (Older People and Carers) also attended in order to support this important meeting.

Jennifer Twist shared a presentation about carers in East Sussex and carers raised awareness about the reality of their day to day lives with MPs and their representatives. Issues highlighted included the number of unpaid carers there are in East Sussex, the challenges of being a working carer, the impact of changes to social care budgets on carers’ lives and how, as a family carer, you inevitably put the person you care for first.

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Carers identified that they wanted “ …to tell our local MP’s what it is like being a carer in East Sussex …” and enable them to “…understand our issues …and the role of the carer in our society as a whole” Caroline Ansell (MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon) committed to share all information and concerns with her colleagues. Follow up work is underway to ensure that at a constituency level, carers views are heard by their local MP’s.

Peter Jenner, a working carer, shared his story on the day, making some strong points about his own experience and linking that to the wider local and national picture. Extracts from Peter’s story are include opposite but if you would like to read the full speech you can do so by visiting the Care for the Carers website at http://cftc.org.uk where you can also see a photo album from the day.

A Working Carer’s Perspective Peter Jenner I am a working Carer, in my mid to late fifties and a growing band of the new breed of Carer who’s trying to balance the needs of caring for an elderly parent, trying to look after my family, trying to get a child through University, assisting another one in trying to flee the nest and aiming to hold down full employment in order for family and household bills to be met. I and many people like me are literally being pulled in all directions. We do it not because we have to, or are told, to but purely out of love and respect.

Just over two years ago my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. I was working in Canary Wharf in the Financial Services Sector and working for a major Insurance Company on a substantial salary. I decided to leave this position and engage with a smaller company conducting the same business and took a substantial salary reduction. This new position allowed me to work remotely from the office 5 days a week. Which then enabled me to work full time from my father’s house (2 miles from our home) and to care for him as well.

Obviously I had to ensure that the caring role never got in the way of my job and can honestly say that it never did.

Over two years with the company, my Employer was very happy with my achievements. A bonus was awarded, salary increase given and all was looking good. 2016 started well and I was asked to spend three days in Ireland to drum up more support for our company and its products. Upon my return an email was received from Ireland confirming that the trip was a success which the MD thought was brilliant.

However, within 5 working days my world was thrown into total chaos when my employer advised me that although I had done nothing wrong and that he was pleased with my efforts the company needed to save costs and I was made redundant.

The impact this has had on both myself, my family and my father has been enormous. I know that the position I had was somewhat unique and that obtaining a similar position will be extremely difficult to secure, so now the onus is on me finding work rather than looking after my father. So care plan will be redrafted, with me taking a back seat and more emphasis on state support. Net result will be my fathers quality of life will now suffer as he will spend long times on his own without mental stimulation and over time will deteriorate and become more dependent upon support from the Social Care budget.

From a Caring perspective I believe that Government and Society still have a long way to go in accepting this valuable role in society. A great deal of emphasis is put on wealth creation and it is looked upon as a demeaning task to look after the elderly and those unable to care for themselves. If anything Government should be applauding these people. In my case alone I must have saved the State about £50k per annum in nursing home fees. Gross that up to say half a million Carers nationwide and that equates to a sizeable number (£25bn).

Over the next few years our ageing population and the number of those being cared for will increase. All the Government can hope is that as the number of cared for people increases, then the number of carers will mirror this increase, otherwise the Social Care bill will come under enormous strain. It is therefore in the Governments best interests to encourage Carers and award and applaude them for the work that they are doing in alleviating the strain under the public purse.

Carers Visit Westminster 19

Contact Us

Care for the Carers

Telephone: 01323 738390

www.cftc.org.uk

Email: info@cftc.org.uk

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