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Centre for Policy on Ageing | |
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| State of caring 2017 | | Corporate Author | Carers UK |
| Publisher | Carers UK, London, June 2017 |
| Pages | 32 pp |
| Source | Carers UK, 20 Great Dover Street, London SE1 4LX. Link to download: http://www.carersuk.org/for-professionals/policy/p... |
| Keywords | Informal care ; Social surveys. |
| Annotation | More than 7,000 people shared their experiences of what it is like to be carers in 2017. Carers UK's latest calculation of the value of unpaid care that carers give to the UK is £132 billion, almost equivalent to the value of health spending (£134 billion). Three quarters of carers (73%) responding to this survey feel that the Government does not understand or value their contribution. This survey focuses on the impact of caring on carers' health and well-being; problems with having and funding a break from caring; accessing practical support with caring; experiences of carers' assessments; experiences of hospital discharge; costs of caring; and jugging caring and work. The survey found that 40% of unpaid carers have not had a break in over a year, whilst 25% had not received a day away from caring in five years. It shows that, two years after the Care Act 2014 put in place stronger duties on local authorities to support carers, these new rights are not improving the lives of many carers in England. There is an urgent need for a cross-government plan setting out how improved support for carers will be achieved. Recommendations focus on: raising Carer's Allowance from £62.70 per week; a sustainably funded settlement for social care and the NHS; ensuring that carers can juggle work and care; providing funding to enable carers to take the breaks they need; a more 'carer friendly' NHS; and ensuring we are better prepared for caring and that carers can get support early to look after their own health and well-being. (RH). |
| Accession Number | CPA-170714001 B |
| Classmark | P6: 3F |
Data © Centre for Policy on Ageing |
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| ...from the Ageinfo database published by Centre for Policy on Ageing. |
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