Author Archives: Maureen
Carers of relatives in England to get legal rights
The proposals could include carers’ rights to respite breaks, education and training
Ministers are planning to grant legal rights for the first time to people in England who spend hours caring for elderly or disabled relatives.
Under the proposals, local authorities would be legally obliged to offer support to such carers.
Some 1.25 million people spend 50 hours a week or more caring for family members who are unable to cope alone.
Proposals are due to be published “within the next few weeks” after recommendations by the Law Commission.
Free breaks offered to Wiltshire’s carers
GPs or nurses will be able to prescribe breaks worth up to £50
12:28pm Friday 8th June 2012 in News
A breaks scheme is being launched at GP surgeries across Wiltshire during Carers Week this year to give unpaid carers who are suffering ill health as a result of their role, or who have a long term health condition, the chance to have a free break.
GPs and practice nurses will be able to ‘prescribe’ a social, leisure or health break to those that they identify as a carer in order to give them an opportunity to take some time out from looking after a relative or friend who, due to illness, disability, age, eating disorder or substance misuse, is unable to manage without their help.
Care home residents who pay subsidising the rest, owners admit
At present anyone with assets worth more than £23,500 has no help from the state in funding their care even though some face costs of up to £100,000 a year
Middle class people in care homes are being charged up to £12,000 a year extra to subsidise the cost of those who receive free care, owners have admitted.
More than four out of five care home operators admit they have had to put up prices for those who pay for their own way because of councils cuts – with some suggesting that the difference in cost is now up to 50 per cent.
They say that it amounts to an extra “tax” on those deemed well enough off to pay for care – effectively meaning that they are being charged twice.
But care home operators said they would go out of business if they were not able to charge so-called self-funders higher fees.
