Wednesday, 10 October 2007

Time for change

Full Story:
http://www.stopinjusticenow.com/News_0391.htm
New facts about carers' lives are a call to arms, says Imelda Redmond
Caring is ubiquitous. It can happen to you or me, today, tomorrow, gradually or overnight, for a partner, parent or disabled child - and it was high on the agenda at this year's party conferences. So why are politicians finally paying attention to this major issue of our time?
They know that, in a competitive world, our economy cannot afford to have men and women who want to work being forced to give up their jobs to care. Yet with unpaid care now valued at £87bn a year, the social economy cannot afford to lose carers, without whose contribution the social care system would collapse.
For 40 years, Carers UK has been making the case for better support for carers, and for carers' right to a life outside caring. The majority of carers are of working age, and we know that carers who cannot work face considerable financial disadvantage, even poverty, which can persist right into retirement, and which brings with it further costs in health and wellbeing.

No comments: