We all know someone who is a carer for a loved one. Whether that someone is caring for their parents in old age or whether it is parents caring for a disabled child or, indeed, a child or young person who helps care for one of their parents in cases where they are struck by serious illness.
There are an estimated 6.5 million in people in the UK providing unpaid care for a loved one, and in Cornwall it is estimated that this figure could be as high as 64,000 unpaid carers. The care they provide is estimated by some groups to be worth the equivalent of £132 billion per year if it needed to be replaced by formal, paid care.
When we consider the role of carers, we often think about residential care homes or nursing homes but there are millions of people who are unpaid carers for loved ones and family members, and it is important to consider ways of helping to support these individuals. One in ten adults in the UK provide unpaid care for a friend or family member, and these people should be supported and recognised in the same way as NHS staff for the invaluable work they do.
A few years ago there was a cross-Government National Carers Strategy to look at what more can be done to support existing and future carers. After a lengthy consultation with carers themselves, the Government announced a two-year programme of support. This includes support for young carers, effective action to help carers balancing their caring and employment responsibilities and ensuring that health and social care services are responsive to their needs.
This month the Carer’s Leave Act 2023 came into force providing more support from the Government to carers in our communities. The Act will enable employees who provide care to someone who is disabled, older, or seriously ill to take up to five days off work each year to arrange or provide care. Having this additional flexibility will help unpaid carers to cope with the challenging task of balancing employment alongside their unpaid caring responsibilities.
According to research from Carers UK, up to 2.3 million employees across the country could benefit from this new arrangement while over 1 million employers will have to implement this new right for their workforce. This law has been widely supported by those closest to carers including businesses, employers, professional bodies, charities, local authorities, unions and unpaid carers.
Caring for a loved one in need is the most natural calling of all, but I think it is important to ensure that there is support in place to help carers take care of their own wellbeing too. It can become an isolating and all-consuming role. Sometimes a little bit of support such as respite or a small amount of occasional help from a personal assistant or assistance from a friend can make all the difference. I hope this new law will provide some much-needed support to those with caring responsibilities.
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