Unsung heroes in Carers’ Week
With Carers' Week taking place across the country, the leader of the County Council, Cllr Alan Farnell, has paid tribute to the unsung heroes and heroines.
He commented on their ‘selflessness’ to improve quality of life and ease pressure on local authorities’ and PCTs’ resources.
In Warwickshire there are over 50,000 carers of all ages of whom 20% devote over 50 hours a week to care. Caring is seen as the preferred option for many people incapacitated by illness or advancing years, the home being seen as preferable to hospital wards.
Cllr Farnell said: "We owe a debt of gratitude to the people who put their own lives to one side whilst they care for family members, friends and even neighbours. Without them, the quality of life for those whom they care for would be greatly diminished and the resources of primary care trusts, already stretched, would be under greater pressure."
Figures calculated by the University of Leeds estimate that the value of unpaid support provided by carers nationally stood at £87billion for the year 2006-07, exceeding the annual total spend of the NHS by some £5billion. The figure for money saved by nearly 50,000 carers in Warwickshire was estimated in the region of £713million.
Warwickshire County Council has implemented a series of measures aimed at supporting people to live independently in the home. PHILLIS (Promoting Health and Independence through Low level Integrated Support) is a service aimed at anyone over 50 and provides advice and support on a number of issues from getting jobs done in the house, shopping and even socialising. Telecare is the technological system that enables higher levels of safety and security in the home.
However, as Cllr Farnell points out, sometimes there is no substitute for the human touch and is grateful to those who give their time to care for loved ones.
He said: "As an authority, we are constantly striving to find ways in which we can help people to enjoy a high quality of life in their own homes and we pride ourselves on some of the innovative projects we have been introducing. However, we do not overlook the contribution made by carers.
"Nor do we take for granted their selflessness. We have many mechanisms in place that can ease the burden. Direct payments has given people the opportunity to chose their own package of care and this has gone a long way towards giving carers some respite where they know their loved one is receiving care when they are not around or at nighttimes."
The County Council funds and supports the South Warwickshire Carers Support Service and Guideposts in the north of the county which provide help and support on a range of topics from claiming benefits to arranging days out, holidays or other forms of respite and have a joint database of nearly 4,000 carers.