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"My name is Bushra Tahir. I have been a carer for my husband for the last 27 years. He had a severe stroke in 2005 and has suffered with a heart disorder since the age of 42. Since my dad died in 2001, I have also become a carer for my dear mother and my disabled sister who has learning disabilities.
As a carer you do lose your identity and personality, you do not have social time for yourself, and lose your friends. My family are my loved ones; I do not want to put them in to the care homes. I don’t trust them in strangers' hands.
Recently the government has introduced Direct Payments – where councils give people a lump sum to hire their own choice of help. This will help people with cultural and faith factors and with different languages get the right support and keep the dignity and pride. When this service was introduced it was very poor. Now we have insisted that the local council consult carers and service users to allow us to express our views on this. We are constantly trying to get better local services.
Carers should be recognised and supported with financial and moral support. As a carer I am grateful to Carers UK, who I campaign for to help us to raise carers’ voices."
Back Me Up
Carers UK's Back Me Up campaign is calling for a major reform of the health and social care system. more...