STATE OF CARING REPORT 2016
Practical support
The care agency pulled the care from
my mother with only seven days’
notice. I was forced to accept direct
payment as no alternative care agency
could be found.
Without practical support with caring from health and
care services, carers cannot get the time they need to
look after their own health and maintain relationships
with others. Replacement care for the person they
support is essential in enabling carers to juggle work,
study or have hobbies and interests alongside caring, or
to manage care with other family responsibilities such
as childcare.
Without this support, carers are often pushed to
breaking point and have to give up work, stop caring, or
even go into hospital themselves.
8 out of 10 (78%) carers buy or receive some form
of practical support with their caring role, be that
equipment, technology, a break from caring or help
from family and friends. However, 1 in 5 carers (20%)
who are providing 50 hours or more of care each week
are receiving no practical support with their caring role.
Direct payment increased slightly but
still not enough to cover the level of
care required.
The amount of ‘free time’ has been
cut following the withdrawal of council
funding to Mencap. Our son was able
to go away for one or two weekends
per year and attend two social clubs,
two evenings each week during term
time. This is no longer available.
1 in 5
20%
of those providing 50 hours or more
of care each week are receiving no
support with their caring role.
Less respite per year means having
less quality time with my husband. Day
care has been reduced so having to
care for more hours, feeling tired and
stressed.
The social worker who assessed my
wife said all direct payments in the
borough were being reduced. We
discussed the needs and were advised
we would be informed of any change.
Without warning or notification the
budget was cut by 30% immediately.
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