No one cares for unpaid Carers

[Huegatort]

Hi to all here

I hope that your weekend is a pleasant one.

Our family support worker phoned last week to enquire how we were. I made clear to her that as an unpaid Carer I feel neglected and ignored by a Government who really don't give a damn!

It goes without saying that without our NHS where would we be and we all applaud their sacrifice, alongside, the people who work in all shops and chemists etc...….

In saying this; I have not heard one single amount of praise for UNAPID CARERS; whom without, the Councils, social services and the nhs would buckle!

[joes]

Your comment about what we save the NHS is spot on- billions each year !!
I have in fact read and heard comments which lead me to believe that a number of our fellow citizens do care but the number is not nearly enough.
How about your own caree ? Mine certainly gives the impression at times that she cares nothing for me and from the posts to the forum it is evident that this is by no means is a unique situation.
We certainly need more people recognising our worth but I would forego this just to have things made a damn sight easier for me by my caree having more empathy and acknowledging what I do . As it is : sits in a bubble and takes the attitude over most things -- " nowt to do wi' me " ( I am not a Northener but like how they express themselves ).
Leaving aside those with dementia /Alzheimers and children , carees need educating ! How one does that , defeats me.

[Maine]

There is a definite disrespect for carers caring full time who receive carers allowance and that is caused by the disregard the Government is determined to show, to those they consider, that they have a right to manipulate, into unpaid caring roles, by creating financial abuse and dependency on the state. By allowing a benefit, in return for a full time and often longterm care needs of another person who is often related. Then the rollercoaster is set up where there is the preventing of any human rights to the unpaid carer. Any help available is also grossly restrictive.
It so's to demoralise and weaken so unpaid care continues and hence saves money, which really should have been paid at least at a minimum wage..for the full-time job of caring. Keeping carers on very little money also prevents the ability of a carer..to do anything about it. Or if they do there will be major consequences, especially upon the say-so of the likes of social care or the Nhs.
It's not a case of no-one cares about unpaid carers...it's a case that many will not stand up for themselves either. Mainly because they believe 'they will get nowhere'...However, if enough carers DID act and speak up, then perhaps we wouldn't go as unheard as we are made to be....after all, there is enough of us in order to make a huge impact. Food For Thought.

[Cloudygal]

Totally agree

However there is a petition regarding increasing carers allwance but it has less than 14,000 signatures.

Has anyone signed it from here. I reposted it yesterday.

[liondog]

Totally agree

However there is a petition regarding increasing carers allwance but it has less than £14,000 signatures.

Has anyone signed it from here. I reposted it yesterday.

Signed it this morning.

[Cloudygal]

Liondog

Excellent.

Has everyone else signed it?

[Maine]

I've signed it a while ago.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/300032

[Ayjay]

I've just signed it too, and I've signed a few similar in the past.

There was mention of one such petition on here a few months back and a bit of googling on my part turned up quite a few petitions relating to Carers: not one of them had received the requisite number of signatures.

I'm afraid I can see this one going the same way, it's roughly halfway through the time it will run and has less than 14,000 signatures - it needs another 86000+.

I can only conclude that a very large majority of carers are either not regular internet users (where better to promulgate such a petition?) or really just don't care.

[Cloudygal]

That's good Ajay & Maine

Its certainly a puzzle.

I think you could be right Ajay, together with people thinking even if they debate it in parliament then it will be just tossed aside as we are caring for nothing anyway!

And really what carers need is the whole package, being better of financially, with the right support, breaks and holidays.

A far off dream for most

[Ayjay]

That's good Ajay & Maine

Its certainly a puzzle.

It needs someone with the drive, organisational skills, and the time, to orchestrate a campaign using all of the freely available social media - just the sort of thing that someone at Carers UK should maybe take on.