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Carers in Northern Ireland need easier and faster access to help
PRESS RELEASE - 8th December 2006
CNew statistics published today (Friday, 8th December 2006) by Carers UK show the enormous turnover of carers in the UK, with almost 69,000 people in Northern Ireland facing new caring responsibilities each year. There are currently over 185,000 carers here, part of the UK’s six million carers who look after a friend, family member or loved one.

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
£4 million in unclaimed benefits.

Carers Northern Ireland is calling on Government to:
• Improve its information and awareness campaigns to reach new carers and to find ‘hidden’ carers. There is a high turnover of carers and therefore a need to repeat these messages.
• Find an easier way for carers to access their entitlements.
• Allocate more resources to care services, recognising the vital importance of carers' ability to work, the right to enjoy both good health and quality of life.

Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland, says
“If carers do not get the financial and practical support they need, they suffer from poor quality of life, cutting back on the essentials they need to get by, and paying a heavy price in terms of their own health and wellbeing. Too many people still do not know what a carer is, yet in Northern Ireland alone they save the economy £1.9 billion each year.”

“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 NI have been funded by Lloyds TSB Foundation to carry forward a Carers Voices Project. The aims of this project are to ensure that carers' voices are heard by:

- Monitoring the way public bodies carry out, or propose to carry out, their powers and duties, for their impact on carers.
- Assisting carers to influence planning decisions, which are made about services that may affect them.
- Empowering and raising the profile of carers through a programme of information exchange, research and helping carers to help themselves.
- Supplying carers with the knowledge to campaign effectively.

Carers Rights Day 2006
Each year Carers UK holds a Carers Rights Day to put the spotlight on issues that are important to carers. This year Carers Rights Day will be held on Friday 8 December. The aims of the day are to:

- Increase take up of benefits
- Estimates suggest that 40-60% of disability benefits go unclaimed. There are no firm statistics on the takeup of carers’ benefits but it is estimated that millions of carers’ benefits go unclaimed each year.

- Make sure carers know their rights
- Every year, almost 7% of people in Northern Ireland become carers for the first time. Those new to caring need straightforward and accessible information about their entitlements. Time after time carers say they need clear information and this is what Carers’ Rights Day is about.

- Guide carers towards practical support
- Access to practical support can be vital in maintaining carers’ health and well-being and can help to ensure that they are not isolated and socially excluded. This might include time off, help with lifting and bathing, equipment or adaptations to the home or access to leisure activities for their disabled son or daughter.

- Raise awareness of the needs of carers
- Carers want the same life chances that other people enjoy - good health, financial security, the right to a family life, opportunities to work and pursue their own interests. But the reality for many carers is vastly different. Carers Rights Day raises awareness of the needs of carers with policy makers and professionals.

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.
More…
Helen Ferguson, Director of Carers Northern Ireland, said:

“Carers are often so focused on the person they care for that they can neglect their own needs, and as a result, their own health can be seriously affected.

Carers need to access all the support and services available to them, in order to ensure they can continue caring without creating long-term health problems for themselves. Support from GPs can make a huge difference to carers. It can also help GPs in the long run. Regular health checks could prevent doctors having to deal with two patients instead of one.

We are delighted that some GPs in Northern Ireland are supporting Carers Week by doing special displays to provide information to carers, as it means that carers will be able to find out about the services that can help much more quickly.”

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 -
12 January 2006

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
advise."

Any carer who wants a free information pack about help and support currently
available should contact Carers Northern Ireland on 9043 9843, email
lesleyj@carersni.demon.co.uk or go to www.carersinfo.net

Free Carers Guide Launched

Carers Northern Ireland has produced free Carers Rights Guides for anyone who is looking after a relative or friend in the community because they are disabled, chronically sick or frail in old age. The guides let carers know about the benefits and practical support that they might be entitled to.

“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?
Do you need help?

Do you look after someone who is ill, frail or has a disability? Would you like more information about your rights to services? If the answer is yes, read on!

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:

Explaining how the person you care for can get a community care assessment and how you can get a carer's assessment.

Giving practical guidance to help you and the person you care for prepare for your meeting with the person who will carry out the assessments.

Explaining what happens after the assessments.

Explaining what you can do if you don’t agree with a decision made by your Health and Social Services Trust.

Lesley Johnston, Information Officer with Carers Northern Ireland said -

‘There are approximately a quarter of a million carers in Northern Ireland. Every year they save the Government at least £1.9 billion by looking after family, partners or friends in need of help because they are ill, frail or have a disability.

Carers must have the right kind of support to help them continue in their unpaid caring role. We hope that ‘How Do I Get Help?’ will give them the information they need to access the services they are entitled to.’

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
FREEPOST BEL493,
BELFAST,
BT1 6BR.

1. There are approximately a quarter of a million carers in Northern Ireland according to the Northern Ireland Health & Social Wellbeing Survey of 1997.

2. Carers Northern Ireland provides information and support to carers, and campaigns to improve the public policies that affect their lives.

3. The legal changes referred to are due to the full implementation of the Carers and Direct Payments Act 2002.

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
58 Howard Street
Belfast
BT1 6PJ
Tel: 028 9043 9843
email: lesleyj@carersni.demon.co.uk

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
main focus of Carers Week is carers health. Through the Health Fair the
Trust aimed to raise awareness of the extra role that carers take on, and the resultant health issues they face. It also encourages practices which will improve carers health and well-being and support them to take action which positively enhances their own health. Carers had the
opportunity to speak to health professionals, and other organisations
working in the health field, try out some complementary therapies and have a healthy lunch.

For further information contact the
Carers Co-ordinator Tel: 028 9056 4937

Carers Information Network
Free Carers Information Pack now available

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
1 1/2 and 3 hours. They have been designed by carers, and are an enjoyable introduction to finding, providing and using information.

For more details, or to book a session, contact us

Carers Rights Day

On 5th December 2003, Carers Rights Day, the aim will be to raise carers awareness about
The benefits they can claim and
Their right to assessment under the Carers and Direct Payments Act.

Local groups will be running information stalls, Carers Northern Ireland will be producing Carers Rights Day Packs and MPs will be signing up to support carers' rights.

To order an organiser's pack or free carers' packs from Carers Northern Ireland, just click here.

Carers Information Network
Free Carers Information Pack now available

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 sessions will be tailored for your group, and can last between
1 1/2 and 3 hours. They have been designed by carers, and are an enjoyable introduction to finding, providing and using information.

For more details, or to book a session, contact us