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| What's New Carers
being sold short The survey found carers having to cut back on food, heating and clothes, give up their jobs, sacrifice their pensions - leaving many deeply worried about their financial future. These latest findings show clearly that the current benefits system does not allow carers an acceptable standard of living and neither recognises nor values them for the contribution they make. Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland says: “Carers are often forced out of work because the social care system cannot give them the support they need. They give so much to society yet due to caring, they experience ill health and poverty. Carers feel short changed by the system. “Carers’ benefits were designed in the 1970s when the world was a very different place. What we need is a radical overhaul of the benefits and tax system. We also need to invest heavily in social care to ensure that carers and their families can take advantage of things that others take for granted – going out shopping, having a weekend break, going on a course or working.” Carers
from Northern Ireland took part in the survey, which found that:
Nearly half (45%) of respondents said they would like to work. But six in ten working age carers said that they could not work due to the level and complexity of the care they provided. The survey found that caring hits hard in the first year, with carers struggling to cope with the changes in their personal situation and their finances as they start to give up work and have the extra costs of disability. After that, there is a steady decline in their financial situation over time. Parents of disabled children under the age of 18 and those caring for adult disabled children were worst hit, suffering greater debt and difficulty in paying bills and having to borrow from friends and family. Helen Ferguson added, “The National Carers Strategy review, announced by the British Government, is a golden opportunity to review the tax and benefits system for carers and get it right. Meanwhile, Assembly Members need to make sure that the Northern Ireland Carers Strategy is properly implemented and resourced, so that carers get the information and back-up they need.” Carers Northern Ireland is urging carers to sign up to ‘Real Change, Not Short Change’, a new campaign to secure a better deal for carers. Visit ww.carersuk.org to sign. In order to help carers in that vital first year, a new booklet ‘New to Caring’ will be published during Carers Week. Any carer who wants a free copy can contact Carers Northern Ireland on 028 9043 9843 or email: info@carersni.org New
workplace rights for carers in Northern Ireland Three in five people will become carers at some stage in their lives. At the moment there are around 83,000 carers living in Northern Ireland who are trying to balance paid work with unpaid care. Work is important to carers for well-being, income and to avoid social exclusion. Carers in employment are likely to have very individual support needs to continue working – and the evidence shows that a supportive employer can make all the difference between giving up work and staying in employment. Simple measures like access to a telephone or flexible arrangements during a period of intense care can make all the difference. In preparation for the introduction of the new law, Carers Northern Ireland has produced a new, free, essential booklet for carers called ‘The employees guide to work and caring’ – vital for anyone trying to juggle work and caring for a disabled adult, relative or friend. Information
is provided in an easy question and answer format and includes:
Workers in some firms have already benefited from these kind of arrangements. Alan Firmin, who is Chair of the Carers Network at British Gas and has a son with Down's Syndrome, said: "As a carer for my son who is now 18 years old, I know first hand how important it is to have flexibility in the workplace and to have an understanding employer. Without a doubt I would have found it much harder to continue to work for British Gas, particularly in the early years of my son's life when we were attending the hospital on a regular basis. The carer's policy within British Gas provided me with the lifeline that I needed to give my son the support he required, whilst maintaining my effectiveness at work. I have been able to maintain my role within the organisation and balance my carer responsibilities, so that both are achieved and neither suffers." As well as preparing carers for the new legislation, a UK-wide booklet for businesses called ‘Caring for carers: the business case’, has been prepared by Carers UK in close co-operation with the DTI, British Gas, the British Chambers of Commerce, ACAS and Action for Carers and Employment (ACE). The booklet for businesses provides all the information employers will need in an easy-to-access way. A new online self-assessment tool called ‘Are you ready for the Act?’ has been developed to enable businesses to measure their understanding of and preparedness for the new flexible working rules. Carers UK has also set up a consultancy service for employers, providing in-depth advice on complying with the new law and demonstrating best practice in flexible working. “Each year in Northern Ireland 68,000 people become carers – some overnight; some more gradually - so each day sees a new population of carers in the workforce”, continues Helen Ferguson. “Many businesses are already seeing the benefits of flexible work patterns for their employees in greater staff retention, higher skill levels and cost-efficiencies. Good flexible working arrangements need planning but they need not be difficult. The new rights to flexible working are a win-win opportunity for businesses and carers.” For free copies of the booklet, ‘The employees guide to work and caring’, call 0845 241 0963 or email: info@carersni.org The quick and simple-to-follow online self-assessment tool for employers is available from www.carersuk.org/Employersforcarers/AssessmentToolforbusiness
Carers
in Northern Ireland need easier and faster access to help The research also shows the shocking loss of income and support that these carers could be missing out on. Estimates from 2005 indicate that carers in Northern Ireland are missing out on almost £4 million in unclaimed benefits, and are not getting the services or information they need, particularly in the vital first year of caring. The new data is contained in a report, ‘In the Know’, published to mark the seventh Carers Rights Day - a national day of action organised to raise awareness of carers’ benefits and their rights under current legislation. This year the 30 different organisations that make up the Northern Ireland Carers Network have got together to mark Carers Rights Day with a launch event at Stormont, sponsored by Carmel Hanna MLA. Nigel Dodds MLA, is also speaking at the event. Key findings in the report show that 65 per cent did not recognise themselves as carers in the first year of caring: for a third recognition took over five years. As a consequence, one in three believed they had missed out on benefits and pension entitlements, the majority (58 per cent) for over three years. Missing out on a year
of the Carer's Allowance benefit alone, at £46.95 per week
(2006/7 rates), means a loss of income of £2,441 per year.
It also means missing out on pension contributions. Many older carers
may become entitled to Pension Credit every year, but do not know
it is available. It was estimated last year that nearly 3,700 carers
over the age of 60 in Northern Ireland are missing out on the Pension
Credit to which they are entitled. The extra benefit of Carers Addition
is also going unclaimed by an estimated 2,800 carers, meaning that
in total, carers in Northern Ireland are missing out on almost Carers
Northern Ireland is calling on Government to:
Helen Ferguson, Director
of Carers Northern Ireland, says “Reaching new carers is a difficult task. Many people simply accept the role as part and parcel of family life, or have it come upon them gradually. They do not take the crucial step of recognising themselves as a carer, and therefore finding out what help is available. It is critical that new carers have access to both practical advice and help through the complicated benefits system in that all-important first year.” For more information about Carers Rights Day or to find out if there is a local event in your area, go to: www.carersni.org/carersrightsday. Carers Northern Ireland also has a free information pack for carers. ‘Looking After Someone – a guide to carers rights and benefits’, is available from www.carersni.org or by calling Carers Northern Ireland on 9043 9843 between 10am -12noon or 2pm-3pm any weekday. CARERS
VOICES PROJECT
Carers
Rights Day 2006
Events will be running across Northern Ireland on Carers Rights Day. To find out about events in your local area contact Carers Northern Ireland. If your group
would like to hold an event to mark the day, you can register online
at www.carersni.org/Newsandcampaigns/CarersRightsDay/Register2006
or contact Lesley at Carers Northern Ireland telephone 9043 9843,
email lesleyj@carersni.demon.co.uk Northern Ireland’s Carers Face Health Crisis The physical and psychological strain put on carers is creating a vicious circle of health problems, according to disturbing new research carried out for Carers Week 2006 (12-18 June).
The worrying statistics, as revealed by the survey of more than 5,000 carers1 across the UK, show that the vast majority of those questioned (79%) reported that caring had made their health worse – and yet just one in four (27%) had been offered a health check by their GP. An overwhelming 90% of carers thought they should be offered an annual health check. And 73% of carers said that health problems affected their own ability to care, with 59% saying their health problems affected the person they cared for. The most common complaints, stress/worry (91%) and depression (58%) stem from the emotional impact of caring, while backache (50%) demonstrated the physical toll on the health of carers. In Northern Ireland, the picture looks even bleaker, with 83% saying that caring affected their health, although they were less likely to feel that their own poor health affected the person they cared for. The
theme for this year’s Carers Week is ‘In sickness and
in health’. It is calling for health checks2 to be made available
for carers within 12 months of them becoming a carer, and regularly
thereafter, in order to break the circle of deteriorating health.
This year is the twelfth annual Carers Week. It is jointly organised by eight UK-wide charities; Carers UK, Counsel and Care, Crossroads Caring for Carers, Help the Aged, Macmillan Cancer Support, MS Society, Rethink and The Princess Royal Trust for Carers. Dozens of events will be taking place throughout Northern Ireland during Carers Week. For details about these, please visit www.carersweek.org, or contact Carers Northern Ireland on 028 9043 9843. Carers
Welcome Promise of Support - Carers Northern Ireland welcomed the Health Minister's announcement today of a new strategy to help carers in Northern Ireland. "We are delighted that Shaun Woodward has recognised the vital work that carers do in supporting vulnerable people in our communities", said Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland. "Carers don't ask for much, but they do need back-up and practical support that will help them in their caring role, and will allow them to have a life for themselves outside of the caring they do. Unfortunately, for many carers, even this is too much to ask at the moment. We hope this new strategy is the start of a new approach by the government that sees carers as equal partners and helps them get the support they deserve." Carers Northern Ireland
welcomed the additional resources promised to improve respite
services, but cautioned that a much higher level
of financial backing would be needed if the strategy was to be
successful in really changing carers' lives. However, Helen stressed
that better information for carers and better communication with
health and care staff would make a huge difference to carers. "This
is particularly important when someone first becomes a carer, or
at stressful times such as hospital discharge", said Helen.
And it doesn't necessarily cost a thing, it's about staff recognising
carers, taking a positive attitude and making sure they get information
about organisations like ourselves that can help and Any carer who
wants a free information pack about help and support currently Free
Carers Guide Launched “Every year, two million people across the UK become carers” said Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland. “Most people just think of doing their duty rather than thinking about rights and entitlements. But benefits like Carers Allowance and Pension Credit can make a real difference to carers’ lives. It is vital that carers claim their entitlements. We know that if they don’t, they struggle on a low income and this affects their health and well-being. That is why we have produced these packs to help carers of all ages through the rights and benefits maze.” As well as a general Rights Guide, Carers Northern Ireland has produced a specific booklet for older carers, after finding out that carers aged over 60 may be missing out on £3.8 million in benefits in Northern Ireland alone. Helen Ferguson said “Carers can easily suffer a ‘double whammy’. For younger carers, giving up work and not claiming the right benefits on time can mean lasting poverty because they are not building up rights to a state pension. Then, in retirement, they may still not get their entitlements. “Many carers do not know that they also have rights to a Carers’ Assessment which allows them to look at the practical support they need in order to care. The new Carers Rights Guide gives all the information a carer
needs on their rights and how to access support. The extra guide
for carers over 60 is called Looking After Someone. Both are available
free to any carer who calls the Carers Rights Day hotline (0808
808 7777), or writes to Carers Northern Ireland, 58 Howard Street,
Belfast, BT1 6PJ (email lesleyj@carersni.demon.co.uk). Do
you look after someone? Changes in the law mean that carers are now entitled to an assessment of their needs and can access services in their own right, for the first time. Having a carer's assessment could give you the chance to take a break from caring or access training to help you in your caring role. Carers Northern Ireland has produced a new booklet entitled ‘How Do I Get Help?’ It gives carers information about how to get the help they need to continue in their caring role. It does not matter what age the person you care for is, or whether or not they live with you. If you are providing most of the care for a friend or relative, you should be properly supported so that you do not have to cope on your own. The booklet is arranged in four clear sections:
Lesley Johnston, Information Officer with Carers Northern Ireland said -
To get a free copy of ‘How Do I Get Help?’ contact Lesley Johnston on 028 9043 9843, email lesleyj@carersni.demon.co.uk, or write to Carers
Northern Ireland
Website Extending To All Of Northern Ireland The Carers Information Network website was originally funded by BRO and aimed at carers in the Greater Belfast area only. It was created through a partnershop made up of Belfast Carers Centre, Carers Northern Ireland, Citizens Advice, North and West Belfast HSST and South and East Belfast HSST. In order to extend the contacts we have engaged Gavin Originals to gather the informaton needed for the site and to develop the website under our guidance. Gavin Originals has sent out a mailing and have developed an online system for providing the details. There is no cost to any of the organisations involved thanks to the funding from the DHSSPS. Please return your questionnaire as soon as possible or enter your organisation's details on the form provided by clicking here. Every organisation which replies by Monday 20th December will be in a draw to win a Samsung Digimax 401 Digital Camera worth £170! Carers Get WebWise Carers can now learn how to access the world wide web with an innovative project being run by Carers Northern Ireland. The organisation which supports and informs carers, is now running one to one internet taster sessions for people who look after an ill or disabled relative or friend. Keeping in touch with friends and family, finding out about hobbies or researching specific information are only a few of the opportunities available online and the new project aims to give carers an understanding of how the internet works , enabling them to use it on their own. For those who may not have a computer at home, Carers Northern Ireland will also be providing access to a computer free of charge at their offices in Howard Street, Belfast. Lesley Johnston, Information Officer with Carers Northern Ireland said: ‘All too often information technology passes by the people who could really benefit from it. Carers can often feel isolated and the internet opens up a multitude of possibilities at the click of a button. We hope that these taster sessions will encourage carers to learn about the internet and enable them to use it with confidence.’ For further information about the sessions or to book your place, contact:
Carers
Northern Ireland Too Ill To Care New Carers UK survey: the impact of caring on health A grim picture is revealed by leading carers organisation, Carers UK, in a new survey on the health of the nation’s six million unpaid carers. Those carers who provide high levels of care are twice as likely to suffer ill health as non-carers. The picture in Northern Ireland is complicated by the higher levels of ill-health in the general population. However the difference in carers health and well-being is still stark, with 18% of carers at the 'heavy end' of caring in poor health, compared to 13.7% of the non-carer population. “The cost to Health and Social Services if carers’ health breaks down is vast", says Carers Northern Ireland Director, Helen Ferguson. "In addition to the cost of treating the carer's own ill-health, the state would have to pick up the cost of caring for the sick or disabled person if the carer is unable to continue caring. Already carers who look after sick or disabled relatives and friends unpaid save the state some £1.9 billion per year in Northern Ireland alone. As our population ages the situation can only worsen.” The research is drawn
from the 2001 Census and provides a detailed analysis of the health
of carers by county across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and
Wales. It is published in the report In poor health: the impact
of caring on health. Carers Week In Northern Ireland
To celebrate Carers Week South & East Belfast Trust held a Carers Health Fair. The Fair involved 30 exhibitors at Knockbracken Hall in Knockbracken Healthcare Park, Saintfield Road.
Many carers suffer from ill health and feelings of stress so this
year the For
further information contact the Carers
Information Network To complement this website, CIN have now produced a free information pack. Aimed mainly at carers in Belfast, it will signpost carers towards the organisations that can help them. All the material has been designed in conjunction with carers. The pack will be available in braille and audio tape, and large print versions or MS Word documents on disc can be made available. To order your free copy, just click here.
Carers Information Exchange The Carers Information Network is offering to run free information exchange sessions for carers and for organisations in Belfast that want to reach out to carers. A facilitator's handbook will soon be available that will allow you to run your own in-house session. The
sessions will be tailored for your group, and can last between For more details, or to book a session, contact us |
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