Local MP, Huw Merriman pledged his support to carers across the Bexhill and Battle constituency as part of the national Carers Week 2016 awareness campaign, which ran from 6-12th June.
There are 6.5 million people in the UK who care for a partner, relative or friend, of which 12,190 carers are in Bexhill and Battle.
Huw spoke in the House of Commons debate on Carers last Thursday in which he championed the needs of older carers. The number of carers aged 85 and over grew by 128% in the past decade, according to a report published last year by Carers UK and Age UK, and it is expected to double over the next 20 years, according to a Government report from 2014.
The seven charities driving Carers Week 2016 are calling on individuals, organisations and services throughout the country to improve the lives of carers by building ‘Carer Friendly Communities’ – encouraging all parts of the community to think about carers and do things differently to support them.
The call comes after research for Carers Week revealed that a combination of inadequate support from local services and a lack of understanding about caring from wider society is having a negative impact on carers’ health, wellbeing, relationships and finances [1].
Huw said: “East Sussex has the highest proportion of over-85s in the UK. Supporting this army of carers is absolutely essential if we are to ensure that our NHS continues to function. Given the Government’s welcome desire to support keeping people at home in their advancing years, rather than in hospital, that support is even more important.
“In a rural constituency such as mine, social isolation can be a particular concern. This is exacerbated for older carers looking after loved ones. According to a report published in 2011, more than two thirds of older carers reported not getting breaks away from caring at all, with a further third getting a break only once every two or three months, or less.
“While it is right to look to the Government to be the ultimate support, very often it is the community and their acts of kindness, via visits, conversations, moral support and basic errands, who improve the welfare and wellbeing of our elderly carers.
“I would like to thank all those constituents who do so much to give carers a break. Carers make a huge contribution to our society, providing vital and often hidden support to friends and family members. That is why I am supporting Carers Week 2016 and encouraging services across the Bexhill and Battle constituency to think about what more they can do to help meet the needs of carers and make our communities more Carer Friendly.”
Emily Holzhausen, who leads the Carers Week partnership, said: “With an ever increasing number of families taking on caring roles for older, ill or disabled loved ones, it is great to see MPs showing their support for carers.
While carers have told us that it makes a huge difference when they are recognised and supported by their local services and communities, too many carers tell us they struggling to balance caring with other areas of their lives. By working together during Carers Week we have a huge opportunity to make our communities more Carer Friendly and make a difference to those who contribute so much”.
Carers Week is made possible by Carers UK joining forces with Age UK, Carers Trust, Independent Age, Macmillan Cancer Support, Motor Neurone Disease Association and MS Society.
Thousands of people have already pledged their support for carers online. To find out more about Carers Week visit www.carersweek.org