Family carers are risking their health because they are unaware of the respite services they are entitled to, according to a report from a charity with a centre in Southampton.

A review of research by disability charity Vitalise found that people supporting a family member or friend don’t see themselves as carers as they are unpaid and as a result miss out on respite support.

The charity, which runs respite centres in Southampton, Southport and Chigwell, provides short breaks in a holiday environment for people with disabilities and their carers.

Vitalise chief executive Chris Simmonds said: “The problems people with disabilities and carers face in accessing essential support, such as funding for respite breaks, is already well documented, but this review reveals that there are many more people out there who don’t even know they are carers and therefore entitled to support.

“Clearly more needs to be done to reach out to this army of invisible carers across the UK, since without the escape valve of regular time off from caring, we know only too well that carers risk reaching breaking point and ending up sick, depressed, and facing the very real risk of becoming disabled themselves. The carers of the UK should not be left to suffer in silence.”

The review, which collated findings of research from various organisations over the past five years, showed that older carers are seeing the biggest impact.

It found they could no longer find work or were forced to retire and found their Carers’ Allowance finishes at retirement age.

It also showed that more than 50% of older carers had not received a Carer’s Assessment and were not informed about local authority funding for respite care and short breaks.

The report was commissioned by the charity and presented as evidence that more needs to provide carers with information about their statutory entitlements.

http://www.stamfordmercury.co.uk/news/carers-unaware-of-respite-support-1-3722422