Category Archives: Carers

Sleepless nights for carers, disabled hit by new 'bedroom tax'

Sleepless nights for the families hit by the threat of new ‘bedroom tax’

Cheryl Guillot with her son Jordan
Published on Tuesday 26 February 2013 09:46

Is it right to ‘tax’ people who are not using all of the bedrooms in their home all of the time? Caroline Mortimer reports.

About 80,000 people in Yorkshire look set to hit by a “bedroom tax” when the Government’s controversial Welfare Reform Act comes into force this April.

The under-occupancy charge will cut the amount of housing benefit available to households with one or more bedrooms classed as spare under the new rules.

Its supporters say it is unfair for the taxpayer to subside extra rooms when there is a shortage of housing across the country. But its critics insist it will have a devastating impact on vulnerable tenants and local economies.

Approximately two-thirds of people nationally who are hit by the cuts will either be disabled or caring for a disabled person. One of them, Cheryl Guillot, 48, from Holywell Green near Halifax, said she had been left “totally bewildered” by the situation.

Providing help and support for male carers in Cheshire

Knutsford Rotary Club raises funds for carers’ tools

7:30pm Monday 25th February 2013 in News
The Rotary club of Knutsford has donated £500 to the Winsford-based Neuromuscular centre to help pay for new tools The Rotary club of Knutsford has donated £500 to the Winsford-based Neuromuscular centre to help pay for new tools

THE Rotary club of Knutsford has donated £500 to the Winsford-based Neuromuscular centre to help pay for new tools to go in the new carers’ work shed currently being erected to the side of the centre.

Urgent action is needed by government to prevent things getting worse!

Risk of abuse leaves 70% of adults afraid of ending up in care home

  • Inspection finds 1 in 6 nursing homes don’t treat patients with dignity and respect
  • Only 41% of relatives believe loved ones enjoy a good quality of life in care

By Jenny Hope

PUBLISHED: 00:07, 26 February 2013 | UPDATED: 07:36, 26 February 20

 

Fears: Half of those surveyed said their biggest concern if a close relative goes into care is the risk of abuse. (Picture posed by model)Fears: Half of those surveyed said their biggest concern if a close relative goes into care is the risk of abuse. (Picture posed by model)

Seventy per cent of adults fear ending up in a care home amid concerns about poor treatment and abuse, a survey reveals.

It found two thirds believe not enough is being done to tackle the problem, and half say their biggest concern if a close relative goes into care is the risk of abuse.

The Alzheimer’s Society report also shows a record 80 per cent of those living in care homes have dementia or severe memory problems, compared with previous estimates of around 62 per cent.

The report, Low Expectations, reveals the pessimism of relatives and carers about the quality of life in care homes.

It found fewer than half of dementia sufferers in care homes enjoy a good quality of life, with more than a quarter of relatives saying it is ‘poor’.

The report comes after six care workers at the Winterbourne View home near Bristol were sent to prison last year for ‘cruel, callous and degrading’ abuse of disabled residents.

At the same time, inspections by the Care Quality Commission found one in six nursing homes did not treat patients with dignity and respect.

The Alzheimer’s Society report estimates that 322,000 of 400,000 care home residents have dementia or memory problems.

However, it found only 41 per cent of relatives believe their loved ones enjoy a good quality of life in care, and 28 per cent think it is poor.

Despite this, the report found three quarters of relatives would recommend their family member’s home.