Carers need our support

May 8, 2014   Carers, disability

By North Devon Journal  |  Posted: May 08, 2014

In last week’s Journal there was a fabulous piece from North Devon Hospice’s very own Beth Kelso.

In the regular “Opinion” section, Beth was writing about the way in which we support carers, an aspect of hospice care that many are not aware of. After all, if it wasn’t for these carers (often husbands, wives, sons or daughters) the health of the person they are looking after would suffer greatly.

We feel it is absolutely vital that carers feel supported in their task, which can take over their entire life.

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Care agencies ‘must ensure recruits can speak English’

May 7, 2014   Carers, Featured Article, Social care
7 May 2014 Last updated at 10:01

Recruitment agencies should ensure care workers can speak English before placing them in vulnerable people’s homes, a government adviser has said

Dr Shereen Hussein, scientific adviser to the Department of Health, told BBC Radio 5 live that poor language skills could lead to bad care and abuse.

Figures from King’s College London say 20% of care workers are migrants.

Care minister Norman Lamb said communication skills would be required for the new Care Certificate.

The brother of one dementia sufferer told the BBC his carers struggled to communicate.

‘Exceptionally difficult’Phil, whose full name we have withheld, has a 62-year-old brother with a severe form of dementia. He employed carers for 18 months to oversee the care of his brother, but grew frustrated with the quality of the staff.

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Dementia’s tragic toll: 50,000 quit jobs to care for sufferers

May 7, 2014   Alzheimer’s, Carers, dementia, Featured Article
  • More than 65,000 people are now juggling work and care for sufferer
  • Nine out of ten businesses say they would consider flexible hours for carers
  • Campaigners say more needs to be done to help those with condition
  • Celebrities Alesha Dixon, Ray Winstone and Amanda Holden back new drive

By Daily Mail Reporter

Published: 01:56, 7 May 2014 | Updated: 09:23, 7 May 2014

More than 50,000 carers will have to quit their jobs to look after loved ones with dementia this year, research shows.

article-2622011-081B13D6000005DCDementia care costs businesses in England £1.6billion a year and 66,000 employees have to adjust their work schedule to make time for their caring responsibilities.

Public Health England and leading health charity, the Alzheimer’s Society, have joined forces in a major campaign to encourage the public to tackle one of the nation’s biggest health issues.

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