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Friday 9th July
The 5th International Carers Conference has got off to an exciting start in Leeds. Delegates from around the world include carers, representative of carers organisations, academics, policy makers and politicians. Delegates were welcomed by Baroness Pitkeathley.
Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley addressed the conference on the government's plans for social care. He talked about the history of the carers' movement and whilst we have come a long way he said reform needs to catch up. He said he would put social care 'front and centre' of Government’s agenda but sounded caution, saying that the “extent of deficit means we have to do more for less".
HRH The Princess Royal delivered the keynote speech in which she stressed how caring was something common to all societies around the world. She noted how societal changes meant families were getting smaller and many no longer have networks of support that existed in the past. That is why support for carers is such an important issue for the 21st century.
Eric Dishman and Simon Roberts from Intel Health talked about the demographic challenges of caring for an ageing population. Solving the global health crisis was not about policy or products but about imagination. We must reimagine how we do health care. Simon Roberts explained how they develop cutting edge technology to help carers by going into people’s homes to find out how they live their lives.
After the speeches ended, the Princess went on to meet some of the delegates including Sir Jimmy Savile who dropped by to offer his support.
Saturday 10th July
Demographic crisis
The morning session heard from speakers from across the world – especially the world’s largest populations facing the demographic timebomb : China, India, USA and the European Union.
Anup Khosla from HelpAge India outlined the changes affecting Indian society. The population is ageing at a fast rate. 90 million older people expected to grow to 324 million. The traditional family structures are changing as the economy grows – more and more women are going to work, hours of work are long - 12-14 hours a day - more people are living alone and migration is drawing families further apart. The traditional caring roles of the extended family are disappearing, however the need to care is growing. There is very little state support for caring and elder care so the responsibility still rests with the family and charities. HelpAge India is lobbying for more financial support, better training and more respite care facilities.
Susan Reinhard from America talked about how we need a revolution to change the way society views ageing and caregiving. She told us about how “caregivers” are seen in the USA. Despite making an economic contribution of $375 billion caregivers face health and money problems. Many of the problems carers face with health professionals are so common to what carers in the UK face - they are hostile to carers, they hide behind confidentiality policies and no one asks the carer 'How are you doing?' Hospital discharge doesn’t work well, carers are not given information but are expected to carry out complex nursing procedures. Carers UK has been hearing these same problems from carers year after year.
Paul Timmers from the European Commission’s ICT unit talked about “assisted living” and how technology can help deal with the caring crisis. The ageing population is a serious issue across the EU. Cutting edge research is being carried out into robotics and smart living. They are developing homes that predict the behaviour of older people and react to prevent falls and keep people safe.
By 2050 one-third of China’s population will be over 60. Professor Zhongwei Zhao appeared by video to explain the demographic crisis facing China. Life expectancy has increased and is now around 74 years. Population controls through the “one-child” policy will have an impact on who will care for the growing elderly population.
Some of the figures we have heard this morning are quite staggering! But it is clear that governments all over the world are waking up to the care crisis and trying to find ways to deal with this change facing our societies.
Technology
Just back from chairing a session on how websites can deliver real life changing results for carers. Contact-a-family are a charity using facebook, twitter, video, podcasts and forums to reach parents of disabled children and give them support and information. In Hertfordshire carers have access to an amazing service called www.bookyourownbreaks.com which is offering carers flexibility and control over their services in a real inspiring way. It is real groundbreaking work, that cuts out the middle man and puts carers directly in touch with care providers and budgets but with none of the hassle. If only it could be offered to every carer across the country. Finally we heard about a scheme in Montreal that gives carers access to an online programme to help them cope with the stresses of caring. Backed up by a trained coach, carers taking part were full of praise for how it had changed their lives and helped them cope. A really inspiring workshop!!
Sunday 11 July
It’s the final day of the conference. My workshop session this morning was about how internet can deliver real changes to carers lives. This is a subject close to my heart as I have seen the difference made by our own Carers UK website forum. In Spain laptops have been provide free to some carers in Malaga and online social networks have been helping reduce isolation and improve health.
The Closing plenary heard from Ben Page who is Chief Executive of IPSOS MORI who gave us his insights into the global challenge of care. He told us that when you ask - what are the most important issues facing Britain - most people are concerned about crime although we have more law enforcement and people in prison than ever. Other concerns are immigration and economy. But social care and ageing doesn’t come up. Despite the fact we are facing a demographic explosion people don’t seem concerned about it?
The ageing population is a huge issue for many countries but not all countries. The Arab world for example has a very young population and are not facing an ageing crisis. In many other countries concerns about health care are growing. But in Britain we are a divided society and don’t really know what kind of a society we want. He said people want a Swedish style of health and care but only want to pay an American style of taxes – it simply doesn’t add up.
The public also want families to take more responsibility for look after their relatives. We also think that volunteering is a good thing but no one actually wants to do it! 82% are in favour of local people taking control of their local services but only 2% are prepared to volunteer to do it. It seems we are a nation riddled with inconsistencies in what we think and what we are prepared to act on.
Next up was Professor Heinz Woolf who I remember from being a TV scientist. He talked about the global care crunch. He explained that him and his wife both have health problems and occasionally need care so he understands the issues well.
After a lifetime of designing and developing technology he has concluded that care is something that can only be supplied by people. Technology can help but actual care is a person to person activity. Gadgets cannot care for people so whilst we have great inventions and technology we must reorganise society to be more caring.
The Conference was closed by Imelda Redmond, Carers UK’s Chief Executive who summed up the many exciting things that had been discussed and thanked everyone for their imagination, passion, humour and stamina.
It has been a thought provoking and exciting conference and it is good to know we are part of a global movement to reimagine the kind of societies we want to live in and one that puts caring for each other at it’s heart.
Follow up on the conference at http://www.carersworldradio.com
Read a record of the conference on http://twitter.com/CarersUK by searching for the hashtag #ICC10
See more photos at the carers conference Flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/icc10/