The Strong Vulnerable
Posted by Suzette
Value of carers' services put at £814m per year
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers has found that an investment of less than £5 million in services provided by five Carers' Centres resulted in at least £73 million worth of social gains in a year. The Trust has published its findings in a new report titled “Carers’ Centres: What impact do they have.”
The report written by Baker Tilly is a social return on investment analysis that evaluates the impact of the support given by five Carers' Centres over a number of years. Looking across the whole network of 144 Carers’ Centres supported by The Princess Royal Trust for Carers, the independent analysis estimated the gain based on total funding of £57m to be in the region of £814m per year.
This gain in value arises from carers maintaining better physical and mental health by reducing stress and depression. In addition to this the person who is cared for is able to continue living at home while some carers’ may be able to continue working. The services targeting young carers play a crucial role in assisting young carers to continue education, find employment or receive training.
The Princess Royal Trust for Carers Director of Operations, Jane Burt, said: ‘These services result in a real return to society, helping carers to continue to care confidently and safely. Carers provide support that is valued at £119bn a year. And services that help carers to continue caring are vital to society’s ability to look after its increasing elderly and disabled population.’
One carer, John, explained what a lifeline the local Carers’ Centre had been for him: ‘Since making contact with my Carers’ Centre, my life and my ability to provide the care needed by my wife has improved significantly. I have attended various modules of the Caring with Confidence Courses, these have all enabled me to learn how to manage myself better and thereby improve my health and my ability to support Linda.
‘Through my Carers’ Centre I have been given a one year subscription to a gym, where I am able to improve my overall fitness and health. It also gives me some time to myself, which helps reduce the stress and strain of caring. Without my Carers Centre I seriously doubt if I would still be caring for my wife.’
Related Items:
The full report on Social Return on Investment
Gordon’s blog on the report and its launch
Video from the launch of the event
Press release for more information
Comments
Savings and Home ownership is
Savings and Home ownership is better for a carer than a carer without these. A Carer would be absolutely crazy to resign from their job should they not have these!
Farm out the caring role to someone who is better off!
My elderly mother had a
My elderly mother had a stroke in August 2009. She was hospitalized for 3 months and discharged into my sole 24 hour nursing care on the 17th November of that year. I have never had any nursing experience. I retired from my business in order to provide this care. My carers allowance has been taken away as I am now approaching 63 and am in receipt of my old age pension which means I am no longer entitled...but I do have what is termed underlying entitlement, whatever that means, I know it's not money.
My mother has been bedridden since December, 2009, she has vascular dementia, is doubly incontinent, has pernicious anaemia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, major constipation issues, along with thyroid problems and depression, although this no longer manifests as she is now monosyllabic and calls me Miss when I hand feed her every mouthfull.
The N.H.S., for the last two years almost, have refused to give me any respite whatsoever as my mother has been assessed as 'self funding', because she has savings over and above what the Welsh Assembly Government are prepared to allow you to keep, so unless I'm prepared to pay up to £700 a week for respite care in a nursing home or £12(expensive cup of coffee eh!) an hour for a carer to come into our apartment, it's tough luck.
I find that I am now ill myself having been diagnozed with a misaligned spine due to my caring role and I am waiting in the usual N.H.S., queue to get a colonoscopy and a scan following a consultation with a gastro intestinal consultant who feels that I have some sort of bowel/bladder disorder....I feel pretty sure that had I been allowed non means tested respite my health wouldn't have plummeted. All I'm asking is for the chance to recharge my batteries, as I love my Mum and want to carry on in my caring role.
Helen
This is an impossible
This is an impossible situation for you Helen and its sadly stories like these that has led many carers to either completely breakdown or simply give up, a situation nobody, including carers, want to be in. There should be help available thru' the continuing health care monies which is for complex care cases such as yours. I'm not sure which area in Wales you live but if you are happy to share that information with me I could get you connected with your local carers centre who would be in a position to guide you thru' the necessary channels and hopefully get you the support and help you clearly need and deserve. Please feel free to contact me personally gwinter@carers.org and I will make sure you get to speak with someone locally who can help you.
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