Rprt

There are an estimated 6.4 million people in the UK1 currently caring for a child, friend, neighbour, partner or parent or a combination of these. Carers look after family and friends who are disabled, frail or ill. They work alongside professionals, volunteers, care homes, special schools and community groups often caring for people in their own home. The hours of care that they provide for ill, frail or disabled people often comes at a cost to their own health and well-being. The impact on a carers’ health and well-being, finances and relationships cannot be underestimated.

This paper looks at the work of 18 local authorities to create systems and support to help families with young carers. It explores some of the positive outcomes from taking a family-focused approach and showcases good practice in this field.

Dementia disproportionately affects women, but their experiences and voices are missing from research and literature. This project aimed to inspire people to think differently about women and dementia by using stories and reflections from individual women to inform the debate in a unique, inspiring and insightful way. The report shows:

The Health & Social Care (H&SC) Task Force, the membership of which is set out in annex B, was one of four such task forces established to develop proposals for measures to be included in the new Carers’ Strategy . This report comprises proposals developed by the group which were put to the Interdepartmental Group chaired by David Behan, Director-General Social Care, Local Government and Care Partnerships, Department of Health, which oversaw the development of the strategy as a whole.

The European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research published at the end of 2012 'Facts and Figures on Healthy Ageing and Long-term Care', a fact-rich briefing that can better inform your work on the European Innovation Partnership for Active and Healthy Ageing (EIP on AHA). This publication provides key up-to-date information on, amongst others:

- Demography
- Health status, risk factors and prevention
- Informal care
- Long-term care services
- Expenditure on long-term care

Having briefly reviewed current calls for fundamental change within adult social care, this report has sought to explore the potential social and economic benefits of future reform.

The Care Act has been widely welcomed. Implementation of the Act however, is far from complete. 69% of carers responding to our survey noticed no difference since its introduction and many expressed frustration and anger at the lack of support they received in their caring role. 

This report involved qualitative and quantitative research with low-income Caribbean, Pakistani and Somali people regarding their experiences and preferences in balancing work and care. Existing policy on childcare and caring doesn’t appear to respond effectively to this challenge, while employers need to do more to enable well-paid flexible working and eliminate discrimination in recruitment and progression.