Carers’ holiday money slashed
FURY: Ron Chambers is a carer for his wife Judy
12:10pm Wednesday 25th April 2012 in Exclusive By James Connell
A CARER has complained he can no longer afford to go on holiday to take a break from his duties because the council slashed his budget.
Ron Chambers, of St George’s Walk, Barbourne, Worcester, says he is “seething” after Worcestershire County Council cut his breaks allowance from £300 to £200.
Council chiefs say the changes mean more carers can access support – 1,175 instead of 903.
Last financial year (2011/12) carers could get a maximum of £300 a year to fund breaks, but this year (2012/13) it has been cut to £200.
Mr Chambers, aged 65, is a carer for his wife Judy, 69, who has osteoarthritis, asthma, bladder problems and has recently been registered blind and needs either a wheelchair or stick to get around.
Mr Chambers, who no longer gets a £55 per week carer’s allowance because he is a pensioner, said the money allowed him to have a break from everyday chores such as shopping, cooking, cleaning, helping his wife in and out of the shower and to dress and general housework.
He said: “I am absolutely seething. They are taking carers for granted.
The plight of Scotland’s carers must be addressed,
The plight of Scotland’s carers
Apr 24 2012 By Craig McQueen
tommy whitelaw
EIGHTEEN months ago, full-time carer Tommy Whitelaw was struggling to cope.
His mother Joan, 72, has vascular dementia, leaving her unable to perform the simplest of tasks or even recognise him.
As the illness progressed, Tommy found himself isolated, cut off from friends and family and from services, which could help.
With the stress taking its toll, the Glasgow 49-year-old visited his GP and began getting some of the help he needed. But Tommy knew he wasn’t the only one and decided then to do something about it.
He embarked on a tour of Scotland, collecting letters from carers detailing their experiences.
Invaluable group for Disabled and Carers set up by East Croydon couple
Disabled Parents and Carers Together group hailed invaluable by East Croydon couple
A DISABLED couple who dedicate their lives to looking after each other have hailed the start of a new “life-saving” support group.
Mandy Maddock and her husband Alun are both blind and depend on each other to get through everyday life by being each other’s carers.
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Alun and Mandy Maddock, who live in East Croydon, are both blind and care for each other. They said the Disabled Parents and Carers Together group would be ‘invaluable’
The couple, from East Croydon, say there is not enough support for disabled carers but have welcomed the idea of a new group which has been set up to specifically help them and others in similar situations.
The Disabled Parents and Carers Together (DPACT) group has been set up to offer help, guidance and a listening ear to those who look after other people while having a disability themselves.
