Monthly Archives: December 2011
More than one in ten patients who visits their GP is a carer
Just over one in ten patients who visits their GP is a carer. How many are on your practice list?
A carer is a person of any age, adult or child, who provides unpaid support to a partner, child, relative or friend who couldn’t manage to live independently or whose health or wellbeing would deteriorate without this help. This could be due to frailty, disability or serious health condition, mental ill health or substance misuse.
Being a carer comes at a physical and psychological cost
- Up to 40% of carers experience psychological distress or depression
- Carers have an increased rate of physical health problems e.g. providing high levels of care is associated with a 23% higher risk of stroke
- Older carers who report ‘strain’ have a 63% higher likelihood of death in a year period than non-carers or carers not reporting strain
Plans for an online “good care guide” for care homes and providers
Plans for greater scrutiny of elderly care in England
Care Services Minister Paul Burstow: “We’re absolutely determined to shine a light on bad practice”
Plans to “radically drive up” standards of social care in England to protect the elderly have been unveiled by the government.
They include an online “good care guide” to allow family members to rate and review care homes and providers.
Committees featuring relatives of care users will also be formed to scrutinise services that do not meet standards.
Well done to Bromley Mencap for caring about carers
Bromley Mencap gets national award for its Mutual Carers scheme
9:44am Sunday 11th December 2011 in News
BROMLEY Mencap has scooped a national award for a scheme which helps carers who also need to be cared for.
