Carers in the area took a break from their caring responsibilities to enjoy health and relaxation activities during National Carers Week which was held 9-15th June.
Government action for carers
The government has listened to what carers and carer's organisations have been saying and during Carers Week published its updated Carers Strategy for the next 10 years which includes a pledge to double the money for care services which allow carers to take a break, a full review of carers' benefits, support to help carers access or return to work, a national carers helpline, identification and support for young carers, pilots for annual health checks for carers and training for GPs so that they are better able to identify carers and the extra help they may need.
Carers UK welcomed the strategy as an "important step forward for carers, backed up with over £255 million of new investment and groundbreaking initiatives."
Charnley Fold, Bamber Bridge
Care Services Minister Ivan Lewis MP recently opened a new centre for dementia care and older people's mental health needs at Charnley Fold in Bamber Bridge.
He was delighted with the new centre as he explained at the official opening:
“In an ageing population, providing excellent quality care for older people with mental health needs is one of the greatest challenges facing the NHS and social care system. There are currently an estimated 570,000 people with dementia in England, and this figure is expected to double in the next 30 years. That is why last Thursday I announced the first ever national dementia strategy to improve the lives of people living with dementia. I am delighted that Charnley Fold is now open to serve the growing needs of the local community.”
The facility is a response to the increase in the number of older people with mental health needs such as dementia in the area and has been developed with £1.5 million of joint investment by Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, Central Lancashire PCT and Lancashire County Council.
The centre is a good example of otherwise seperate services being joined up. Lancashire Care, Lancashire County Council, Central Lancashire PCT, Age Concern and the Alzheimer's Society are working together to provide the new services which include:
· A ground-breaking health and wellbeing centre and support service for older people provided by voluntary sector organisations. This includes advice, information, a carer's café and carer support services
· A flexible care service to work with people and their carers at an early stage of being diagnosed with dementia
· A community based assessment, diagnostic and treatment service
· Specialist staff including psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and other therapists who provide a range of support services in the local community
· An enhanced day care service for older people with complex needs
· Training facilities for staff who work with older people
More help for disabled children and their families
Also recently Labour peers Lord Rix and Lord Adonis made an amendment to the Children and Young Persons Bill, currently going through Parliament, which will place a duty on local authorities to provide short breaks for disabled children and their families. Last year the government also announced £280 million over three years to increase the availability of short breaks for disabled children and their families.
Labour cares for carers
Labour has a strong record in recognising and supporting carers needs. It was a Labour MP, Malcolm Wicks, who first gained legal recognition for carers and their right to have their needs assessed in 1995. Another Labour MP, Tom Pendry won further rights to services for carers and in 2004 Hywel Francis MP introduced legislation which aimed to enable carers to take up opportunities which those without caring responsibilities take for granted, such as education, leisure or work. Labour has also introduced the right to request flexible working for carers.
Have your say on future care policies
An ageing population means that in 20 years' time a quarter of the adult population will be over 65 and the number of people over 85 will have doubled.
The growth in the number of people with care and support needs will put increasing pressure both on services and on the financial support received through benefits and other funding.
Visit www.careandsupport.direct.gov.uk to have your say on what a future care and support system should look like and how it should be paid for.
The government is also consulting on the more specific development of a National Dementia Strategy and invites everyone to give their views on the ideas set out in the 'Transforming the quality of dementia care' document, as well as contribute new ideas to the debate. The consultation runs from 19 June to 11 September 2008.
Help available for carers locally
If you are a carer, you can find out what help may be available to you locally here .
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