Category Archives: Carers

Sick and disabled made to wait for more than six months to know if they will get benefit

March 18, 2014   benefits, Carers, disability

Controversial new benefits system.

People with disabilities and severe illnesses are being made to wait for more than six months to find out if they are eligible for financial support from the Government under a controversial new benefits system.

In a highly critical report, a committee of MPs described delays in processing the Personal Independence Payments (PIPs) as “unacceptable”. They called for ministers to invoke penalty clauses for the delays on the two private companies, Atos Healthcare and Capital Business Services, which provide the assessments.

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Help for carers across Lancashire

March 18, 2014   Carers

Unpaid carers across Lancashire are being helped to get fit and healthy.

18th March 2014 10.07

 

Lancashire County Council, in partnership with district councils and local leisure trusts, has produced a “passport to leisure” card specifically for carers.

The cards are available to anyone in Lancashire who looks after or provides help to someone with an illness or a disability who couldn’t manage on a day-to-day basis without that additional support.

The aim is to give carers’ health and wellbeing a boost by offering discounts on leisure activities across the county.

Carers can use the card to enjoy reduced charges for activities such as swimming, golf, racquet sports, gym and Zumba.

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Family’s fury as 60 different carers visit in 30 months

March 18, 2014   Carers, Older care, Social care, stroke
An 84-year-old left disabled by a stroke had 60 different home carers in less than three years, her family have revealed.
18th March 2014  08.26

'DIABOLICAL': Stroke patient 84-year-old Audrey Arundel from Ossett. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe‘DIABOLICAL’: Stroke patient 84-year-old Audrey Arundel from Ossett. PIC: Jonathan Gawthorpe

Audrey Arundel’s daughter and son-in-law eventually demanded a new firm provide her care because of the string of different staff, which they 
branded “diabolical”, and other issues.

A search is now under way for another suitable company after the family had a disagreement with Wakefield Council over her care package.

Mrs Arundel’s son-in-law Malcolm Oates said: “From one company we have 60-odd different carers in two-and-a-half years. It’s diabolical.”

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