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2009 News

Carers of disabled offered breaks (added 19.2.10)
Under government plans, local councils in England will be required to provide free short breaks for the parents and carers of disabled children. The breaks can be in the day or overnight, in or out of the home, and may give children and young peple the chance to experience new activities. The breaks would be offered for free but it would be down to local authorities to decide who should be eligible. The Department for Children, Schools and Families has launched a consultation on the issue. Read the full article at http://news.bbc.co.uk

Tipping point for care - time for a new social contract (added 9.2.10)
Carers UK has a bold vision for a new social contract between individuals, communities, employers and the state which places the caring relationships of individuals and families at its centre. Read the 10 page document at www.carersuk.org (378.84 Kb).

Benefit fund for care professionals launched (added 21.12.09)
The Care Professionals Benevolent Fund (CPBF) helps all types of care professionals, either currently working or who have worked in the long-term care sector, through hard times. To find out more about the CPBF go to www.cpbenevolentfund.org.uk/latest_news.cfm

Carers caught in a club sandwich (added 14.12.09)
A new report highlights the pressure on the growing number of families that have to care for both the very young and the very old. They were dubbed the sandwich generation, the middle-aged couples trapped between the needs of elderly parents on one side and the demands of young children on the other. Read the article here.

Landmark ruling to protect carers in the workplace (added 7.12.09)
Carers are to get the same protection as disabled people in the workplace, after a landmark ruling concerning a London law firm at the Employment Appeal Tribunal. The case involved Sharon Coleman, who claims she was forced to quit her job after she asked for time off to look after her disabled son. The Disability Discrimination Act 1995 has been amended to reflect this ruling.

Success for Talking Therapies Pilot in tackling depression (added 3.11.09)
The government's Improving Access to Psychological Therapies programme has received a boost after an evaluation of a pilot identified significant improvements for people with depression and anxiety. The study of the Doncaster Primary Care Trust pilot found three-quarters of patients referred for treatment from August 2006-August 2007 who completed programmes were found to be in remission or recovery. The programme is now being expanded to 115 areas. Read the full article at www.communitycare.co.uk

Searching the Web can slow the advance of dementia (added 2.11.09)
Using Google to search the internet is good for the brain and can slow or even reverse age-related conditions such as dementia, according to scientists from UCLA in Los Angeles. They found older people who have never used the internet before boosted their brain power just a week after going online. Researchers found simple internet searches triggered key centres in the brain, which control decision-making and complex reasoning. Read the article at www.dailymail.co.uk

Online help for dementia sufferers and carers (added 22.5.09)
A website designed to support people with dementia and their families and carers has been launched. The online Dementia Centre, developed by health and social care charity PSS follows on from the organisation's existing Dementia Café internet site. The site can be viewed at www.dementiacentre.com

Delaying retirement could prevent early dementia, say scientists (added 22.5.09)
Working beyond normal retirement age might help stave off dementia, scientists have stated. Keeping the brain active later in life appears to reduce the chances of an early onset of Alzheimer's disease, according to a study of 382 men with probable dementia. Researchers from the Institute of Psychiatry at King's College, London, studied data from 1,320 people with dementia. The research is funded by the Alzheimer's Research Trust and the Medical Research Council. The researchers found no link between education or employment and dementia risk, but found that those who retired later prolonged their mental abilities above the threshold for dementia. Read more here

Caring for elderly people should be promoted as a career, says Dame Joan Bakewell (added 23.11.09)
Dame Joan Bakewell, the Government-appointed adviser on old age, says she has been taken aback by the level of concern among elderly people about standards of care in their own homes and in residential establishments. She states: 'Caring for the elderly should become a recognised profession and be recommended to school leavers as a rewarding career to meet the demand for higher standards in homes'. Read the full article at www.timesonline.co.uk

Hospitals treat Alzheimer’s patients so badly 'one in three carers complain' (added 23.11.09)
Some hospitals are treating Alzheimer’s patients so badly that some families have complained about their loved one's care. Read the article at www.telegraph.co.uk

David Cameron on Autism (added 23.11.09)
The UK Autism Foundation has been lobbying and campaigning against proposed cuts to public services. Ivan Corea, UK Autism Foundation's CEO, has written to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Opposition Leader David Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg urging them to protect parents, carers, children and adults with autism and Asperger's Syndrome from the proposed cuts to public services. Mr Cameron has responded and they are awaiting a response from the Prime Minister and the Liberal Democrat leader. Read more at www.disabled-world.com

Carers of disabled people have right to claim discrimination (added 2.11.09)
The Employment Appeal Tribunal has ruled that carers can no longer be discriminated against because they care for a disabled person under UK law. The judgement comes from the case of S. Coleman who claims she was forced to leave her job at a London law firm because of her responsibilities as a carer to her disabled son. Read the full article at www.communitycare.co.uk

Carers UK and Daily Mirror have launched a 'Caring for Carers' campaign (added 19.10.09)
The Daily Mirror has joined forces with Carers UK to launch a campaign Caring for Carers. The national newspaper is calling on Government to improve the lives of the millions of people who care for a relative or friend. The Mirror's campaign calls for an end to the financial hardship suffered by carers and an immediate review by Government into carers' benefits; more respite breaks and health checks for carers; and for carers to be given discretionary time off when they are unable to cope. Read more about the campaign and leave comments on the campaign blog at http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/carers-campaign/

NHS 'failing to support carers' (added 19.10.09)
There are an estimated 6million carers in Britain. Campaigners state that the NHS is failing to invest in much needed services for carers. Data uncovered by two charities suggested just £10m of the extra £50m earmarked for support services was being spent this year. Read more at http://news.bbc.co.uk

Carers UK welcomes the end to means testing for personal care (added 19.10.09)
The Prime Minister has announced that disabled and older people with critical needs will be entitled to free care in their homes. This would benefit up to 350,000 people and could mean families who are currently struggling to meet the costs of care could be hundreds of pounds better off. He said that from October 2010 those with the highest needs would get free personal care in their own homes, with the aim of encouraging saving and helping older people to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. Read the Carers UK article at www.carersuk.org

Carers UK issues statement in response to the Conservative announcement of a policy for payment of residential care fees (added 19.10.09)
Commenting on the Conservative party's new policy to prevent people from selling their homes to pay for residential care, Imelda Redmond, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said: "Following the Prime Minister's announcement on free personal care for the elderly last week, we are now starting to see a political consensus emerging that the crisis in our social care system must be tackled." Read Carers UK's article at www.carersuk.org

Autism in the UK today, by Mark Lever, chief executive of The National Autistic Society (added 14.9.09)
"I was a newcomer to the autism world when I joined the National Autistic Society (NAS) almost two years ago, and I was immediately struck by the passion and energy of the autism community. I soon learned that very often this passion is borne of having had to fight - sometimes for years - for basic services and support. All this, while learning to live with a condition which is greatly misunderstood and much more common than most people realise." Read the article here

More help for carers from the Department of Health (added 20.7.09)
Carers across the country will be given better access to healthchecks, more support from the NHS and more opportunities to take time off thanks to a £16 million demonstration programme announced by Care Services Minister Phil Hope. From October, 25 sites will test different ways of supporting people who care for friends or family. The sites will look at: helping carers take time off or go on holiday through a ‘choose and book’ website and a ‘valuing our carers’ discount scheme for travel, holidays, sports and leisure activities; provide healthchecks at locations that fit in with the carer’s schedule; provide paid replacement care so carers are able to take breaks; teach carers stress management techniques; give advice on healthy eating and smoking cessation to carers in their own homes; and support carers more effectively through the NHS, for example, by ensuring that the NHS considers carers’ needs when booking and holding GP and hospital appointments and involving carers when making hospital discharge arrangements. Read the article at www.dh.gov.uk

Afyia Trust launch first National Black and Minority Ethnic Carers Panel (added 17.7.09)
London-based charity, The Afiya Trust, has launched the UK's first national Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) carers panel network. It has been set up to raise the profile of cultural issues faced by black carers. Read more details on the Carers of ethnic minorities page.

ACT launches free Family Companion for Parents (added 10.7.09)
ACT, the Association for children’s palliative care, has launched a new publication to help families and carers of children and young people with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions understand what will happen following their child’s diagnosis. It will be distributing this publication free to families of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions across the UK. Any families who think they could benefit from it can order their copy by phoning 0117 916 6422, or e-mailing susannah@act.org.uk

www.mentalhealthfoundation.mydish.co.uk - recipe website linking healthy eating with a healthy mind (added 30.6.09)
This recipe website highlights the links between healthy eating and a healthy mind. The site explains what foods are good for the brain and shows how to eat healthily on a budget. Visitors can also share tips and swap recipes. The Mental Health Foundation, who helped create the site, hope it will be particularly helpful for people experiencing common mental health problems including depression and anxiety.

Putting people first - transforming adult social care (added 22.6.09)
Putting People First, published late in 2007, set the direction for adult social care for the next ten years and beyond. The Government is tackling care and support reform through a two stage transformation strategy lead by two key publications, Putting People First, to address the present situation and near future, and a care and support Green Paper to shape the future of the system. Read the article here.

Carers lack training to look after people with dementia (added 19.6.09)
Many people with dementia are receiving poor care because large numbers of staff are badly trained or quit because of their low pay and status, a parliamentary group on dementia reports. Too many carers who look after the 700,000 Britons with some form of memory loss are unfit to work with such vulnerable people, according to the group. Read the aricle here.

Working families: Stuck in the middle (added 1.6.09)
The 'sandwich generation' are mid-career employees 'sandwiched' between supporting the demands of their children and their parents. According to support organisation Carers UK, 2.5 million people in England and Wales juggle jobs with caring and 90% are over 30. Read the article here.

YoungMinds launches online forum for parents and carers (added 29.5.09)
YoungMinds is giving parents and carers of young people with emotional problems the chance to talk to people in similar situations with the launch of an online forum. The service from the mental health charity for young people last year will give parents the opportunity to share their experiences and offer advice and support to others. To access the forum visit www.youngminds.org.uk

Is your MP supporting carers and Carers Week? (added 22.5.09)
So far almost 200 have either sent a message of support and/or signed Carers Week's parliamentary motion tabled by Carers Week champion, Anne McGuire MP. Find out whether your local MP(s) are amongst those supporting Carers Week by visiting www.carersweek.org. You can urge them to join up by emailing them from the UK Parliament page at www.parliament.uk

Swine flu advice for carers (added 8.5.09)
The Department of Health has issued some broad guidelines for anyone who think they or a family member might be infected:- Stay at home and rest; take medicines such as aspirin, ibuprofen or paracetamol to relieve symptoms (following the instructions with the medicines); Children under 16 must not be given aspirin or ready-made flu remedies containing aspirin; Drink plenty of fluids; Contact your GP surgery for further advice. For more information visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk,or phone NHS Direct on 0845 46 47. More details can be found at www.carers.org

‘Valuing People Now - A Three Year Strategy for People with Learning Disabilities’ (added 1.5.09)
Secretary of State for Health, Alan Johnson, has stated that "People with learning disabilities will be supported in every aspect of their lives, from housing and health to employment". ‘Valuing People Now’ is a new vision for improving services for people with learning disabilities across health, housing, employment and community cares services. It follows a comprehensive consultation involving more than 10,000 people. For a copy of the Strategy visit www.tinyurl.com/cp2jrf

Analysis of research into young carers (added 10.3.09)
The UK's 290,000 young carers aged 16-24 often fall into the gap between Adults' and Children's services. Read the article here

Carers will be included in new savings scheme (added 6.3.09)
Government-supported saving scheme 'Savings gateway' will now include Carer's allowance as a qualifying benefit. The government wil contribute 50p for every pound saved. Read more here

National Dementia Strategy (added 10.2.09)
Health Secretary Alan Johnson and Care Services Minister Phil Hope have launched the first-ever National Dementia Strategy, which includes 17 recommendations based on the key themes of: raising awareness and understanding; early diagnosis and support, and living well with dementia. The strategy can be viewed at www.dh.gov.uk

MyCare research - young carers’ resilience, coping strategies and cultural differences in caring for parents with a mental illness (added 16.1.09)
The Mental Health Foundation and the Princess Royal Trust for Carers are conducting research into the mental health of children and young people aged 10-21 who care for a parent with a severe and enduring mental illness. The research will investigate the experiences and needs of children and young people, particularly how age, gender and culture affect their perceptions of caring, resilience, and coping strategies. Young carers can get involved in several ways. Follow this link for more information

Carers Poverty Charter update from Carers UK (added 4.9.09)
The government has promised a review of carers’ benefits and pledged that by 2018, carers won't be forced into financial hardship by caring. Carers cannot wait - they are falling into poverty and financial hardship now and need urgent action. Carers' benefits must be reformed to protect carers from poverty and support carers combine caring with work and study. Carers UK are calling on the public along with charities, voluntary organisations and employers to add their voice to this Carter and send a message to government - reform carers’ benefits and end carer poverty now. Carers UK plans to present the Charter to the government and all political parties later this summer. If you would like to add your support in signing the Carers Poverty Charter, contact Carers UK either by telephone on 020 7378 499 or by email info@ carersuk.org

ContactPoint - for professionals working with children and young people (added 20.7.09)
This is an online directory for professionals working directly with children and young people up to the age of 18. The national system will hold basic details of every child and young person, as well as contact details of parents/carers and any professional working to support the child. The database is designed to help professionals so that they can quickly find out whether other services are involved in the care of a child so they can work together to ensure the child and family are getting the support they need. Only a small number of people whose job it is to help children and their carers will have access to the system. Authorised users will undergo identity checks, enhanced Criminal Records Bureau disclosure and training. Users will also have a personal user name, password, security code and PIN. The directory will not hold personal details such as assessments, medical data or examination results. Where a child may be at risk of significant harm, parents/practitioners can request that child's details be kept hidden on ContactPoint to prevent the child's whereabouts becoming known.

New stealth tax on middle classes to pay for care in old age (added 14.7.09)
The elderly are to be asked to pay thousands of pounds each to help create a new 'National Care Service' under radical proposals to be unveiled next week. Health Secretary Andy Burnham will vow to end the scandal of tens of thousands of people being forced to sell family homes to pay for a place in a care home. The Daily Mail's Dignity for the Elderly campaign has highlighted how elderly people who have worked and saved all their lives are left with no option but to sell up to meet bills of several hundred pounds a week. Read the article at www.dailymail.co.uk

The Budget (added 1.5.09)
Carers Allowance has increased by £2.55 from £50.55 to £53.10 per week. Some changes will benefit carers including: The government is raising the capital disregard in Pension Credit and pensioner-related Housing and Council Tax benefit, from £6,000 to £10,000 in November 2009. This will increase the income of thousands of pensioner households, including older carers, by an average of £4 per week, so more carers who have savings are eligible for Pension Credit. The government will contribute £100 per year to the Child Trust Fund account of disabled children, with severely disabled children receiving £200; payments will commence from April 2010. An additional £125 million in 2009-10 and £145 million in 2010-11 will be allocated to the Social Fund, which provides lump sum payments, grants and loans for people on low incomes - many carers rely on the Social Fund to help them meet one-off payments. Grandparents who are of working age and looking after grandchildren will get National Insurance credits towards their state pension. The Saving Gateway, a scheme to encourage saving for working-age people on lower incomes by matching saving with government contributions, will be introduced in nationally in 2010. Recipients of Carer’s Allowance will be eligible to open Saving Gateway accounts.

Prevention vs Cure (added 1.5.09)
NHS Health Checks, which could prevent 1600 heart attacks and strokes each year and help save 650 lives, began in April. Everyone aged between 40-74 in England will be invited for a free check as part of a national programme to identify their risk of diseases such as coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and kidney disease. The checks are part of a drive to ensure that people from this age group have the necessary information about their health in order to make important lifestyle changes and reduce their risks of developing diseases like diabetes and coronary heart disease. The checks are being rolled out across England and will be fully implemented by 2012/13. They are likely to be available at GP surgeries, health centres, walk-in centres and pharmacies.

Carers Week Annual Survey now live (added 27.1.09)
Carers can take part in the 'Hidden and Invisible?' survey, which can be completed at www.carersweeksurvey.org.uk. The survey will seek answers to the following questions: Is the contribution that carers make recognised by society? Do carers need access to better support and services? Would increased recognition by professionals and others who impact on carers' day-to-day lives, make a difference to carers lives? The survey will bring to the fore the issues carers say are the most important to them, and will give carers the opportunity to share their experience of caring; the personal stories of the stresses and strains; the ups and the downs. The stories and experiences that carers describe will create an overall picture and a set of results, which will be at the centre of Carers Week 2009. All information provided by carers will be private and confidential.

Government urged to boost funding for learning disability services (added 20.1.09)
Charities and welfare groups have welcomed the government's commitment to a three-year plan to improve the lives of people with learning disabilities, but voiced doubts that it would be achievable without more funding and greater powers for local co-ordinating boards that will be charged with overseeing it. The plan, 'Valuing People Now', represents an overhaul and strengthening of the 2001 Valuing People strategy to try to ensure that local areas are not allowed again to fall behind on the national programme and to draw all public services into the framework. Read the article here

Worries over high care home costs (added 19.1.09)
The cost of care is a major concern to many people. Elderly people and their carers have to search for suitable care homes 'in the dark' - Council and Care charity has reported. It wants the government to overhaul the entire care system and make it simpler and more transparent. Read more here

Facing up to the cost of care (added 6.1.09)
The UK's fastest growing age group is now 85 years and over, which causes concern regarding current care home costs. It is reported that the average cost of a single room is now £24,700 per year, escalating to £35,000 annually in a nursing home situation. If you have assets of more than £22,500 you will probably be liable for all the costs of care, less any benefit you may be entitled to. If your family is facing this situation, it pays to be fully informed of all the issues and possibilities of care home funding before the need arises. Care Directions has teamed up with NHFA Ltd to provide comprehensive guidance on this topic. For further information visit www.caredirections.co.uk

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