New findings released byย Carers UKย haveย found that people looking after older or disabled loved ones are missing out on much needed financial and practical support.
Coinciding withย Carers Rights Dayย (November 25), the charity discovered as many as 52ย per centย of the totalย 5,682ย collected responses claimย missing out on support as a result of not identifying as a carer impacted negatively on their finances; with aย similar number (50ย per cent)ย declaringย it had an impact on their physical health.ย
Furthermore, 91ย per centย of carers said they missed out on financial or practical supportย as a result of not identifying as a carer, andย 78ย per centย state a lack of support meant they suffered from stress and anxiety.
Helรฉnaย Herklots, chief executive atย Carers UK, said:ย “For many people, looking after an ill, older or disabled loved one doesnโt have a name, it is โjust something you doโ. However, notย recognisingย you are carrying out a caring role can be a barrier to accessing vital support.ย
“The longer it takes to identify as an unpaid carer, the more likely it is that carers will struggle without the support and advice they need. Frontline professionals, such asย GPs, teachers and social workers, play a central role in ensuring carers are identified and then guided to support as early as possible in their caring journey.โ
However, the research did findย a 10ย per centย riseย in the number of people recognising theirย role within the first year of caring; nearly half (46ย per cent) of those who responded to this particular question, compared to 36 per centย of people in the same research in 2006.
The charityย launchedย Carersย Rights Day to reach an estimatedย 6.5 million carers in the UK and provideย information about theย financial and practical help available; including benefits such asย Carerโs Allowance, respite, andย access to necessary equipment and technology.ย
A copy of the report can be downloadedย hereย