Carers

poppyjay

Do u think the government are going to start looking at the role of Carers and make it harder to be one?

Oldernotwiser

Do you mean make it harder to claim Carers Allowance?

poppyjay

Yes
Carers do a wonderful job and some should be paid a hell of alot more I'm not I'n anyway knocking real Carers
But I know a couple (very close family member) who take the p&@s
He I's I'll lung problems but she spends her day shopping having her hair done things like that.there I's no personal care involved.he can take his own medicine push a vax around and get into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
They have both just had a type of meals on wheels so don't even cook.
Why do people like this get the money when it could make a real differences to others?

NASA_2

no, they arent going to start doing that.

Wee_Willy_Harris

poppyjay wrote: »

Yes
Carers do a wonderful job and some should be paid a hell of alot more I'm not I'n anyway knocking real Carers
But I know a couple (very close family member) who take the p&@s
He I's I'll lung problems but she spends her day shopping having her hair done things like that.there I's no personal care involved.he can take his own medicine push a vax around and get into the kitchen to make a cup of tea.
They have both just had a type of meals on wheels so don't even cook.
Why do people like this get the money when it could make a real differences to others?

It would be naive in the extreme to assume that cutting this couples carers allowance would in any way benefit anyone else. As for it making a difference? It already is... a difference to them.

Many in receipt of benefits related to health issues have good days and bad. On the bad days, you probably don't see them. So, all you see is someone vacuuming the lounge and assume that he must be fit and able. A bit like having a day off sick and being seen by the boss at the shops. You may be dragging yourself to the chemist to collect your prescription, but your boss sees you out shopping when you should be at work.

poppyjay

I see this person everyday afew times sometimes .

My problem I's why give Carers allowance when no care I's being given?

Oldernotwiser

You cannot know what happens in people's homes - unless you've invested in a strong set of binoculars!

Tehya

Care comes in many different guises like some of the following examples?

Encouragement to just get up in the morning, to eat their meals, take their medicines, attend appointments with the caree, be there in case of an emergency, you mention his lungs so maybe he could just stop breathing, this can happen to my husband so even on days he can get up and walk, albeit in agony, he still needs someone close to ring an ambulance. As you can see from this list there is no mention of any physical care being carried out just supportive encouragement which is quite within the government guidelines.

I agree that CA which at only £53 is woefully inadequate it's also the only benefit that a claimant has to work at least a minimum of 35 hours a week for the privilege of receiving.

If the government made it harder still to get CA, for which the ill/disabled person has to be in receipt of DLA care at least the middle rate, then what would happen to people like me who care for their loved ones 24/7 BUT their caree has a variable condition? Will they take away a day’s worth of CA because my husband could walk with just his stick for one day that month?

Looking at increasing CA is a good thing but not if it means taking it away from people who may do less physically but who still care nonetheless.

Macro_3

You can't possibly know that she doesn't care for the required number of hours, or the form that his care takes. Providing care could mean something as simple as shopping or collecting prescriptions, or supervising him in case or problems. It could be that his care needs are greater at night or that she provides care which is of a very personal nature, so they don't publicise it.

As far as I'm aware, you don't need to chain yourself to the house as a carer.

The cost to the taxpayer if someone else had to provide your relative's care would be far greater.

Tehya

Macro wrote: »

It could be that his care needs are greater at night or that she provides care which is of a very personal nature, so they don't publicise it.

That is so true, not one other family member (including our son who lives with us) knows exactly what I do for my husband as for one it's none of their business and two it would embarrass my husband to have his personal life talked about by all and sundry.

Macro wrote: »

As far as I'm aware, you don't need to chain yourself to the house as a carer.

Again very true, I need to leave him sometimes for example pay the bill, attend my own appointment, even have my own hair done.

Macro wrote: »

The cost to the taxpayer if someone else had to provide your relative's care would be far greater.

Yeah it would cost the tax payer a minimum of £2000 per week to care for my husband, I am even trained to administer his drugs via injection which saves a nurse coming out to do it at a cost of around £100 per injection.

krisskross

Tehya wrote: »

I am even trained to administer his drugs via injection which saves a nurse coming out to do it at a cost of around £100 per injection.

Not exactly difficult is it though? I give my husbands's injections when his RA makes it too difficult to do himself. However his 'training' to self administer injections must have taken all of 5 minutes.

Where on earth do you get a figure of £100 per injection? My husband has 15 injections a week.....ludicrous to suggest administering these would cost £1500 a week.