Valuing Carers 2015 the rising value of carers’ support – Why a new Strategy? We know that in a world where there will be fewer services and more of us living longer but not necessarily in good health, the role of carers’ will become more vital. This new strategy recognises that: The number of carers is increasing Carers are getting older (21% increase of carers aged 65+ from the 2001 to 2011 census) Carers are providing more hours of care (18% increase at 20+ hours and 13% increase at 50+ hours) For some people caring is lifelong For other people they may care for a few years and then stop and this could happen several times Every day there are people starting to care for the first time (approx. 55 people in Sheffield every day) There are a number of factors that when added together cause health inequalities for carers e.g. emotional stress, poor health, financial hardship We know that If we do not continue to champion carers’ and enable them to continue to care it can have far reaching consequences for the carer and for the person being cared for. For example; poor mental and physical health, financially and / or socially excluded, being subject to or perpetrating abuse. Through this strategy we will continue to build the strength and resilience of carers to continue to care for as long as they wish to. Local requirements Since the last Strategy (2010-2013) there has been progress and good work but many of the concerns described in the previous and national strategies still exist in Sheffield today. National drivers Since 2008 there have been seven national strategy documents published by Department of Health, NHS England and Think Local Act Personal. These documents are also
Valuing Carers 2015 – the rising value of carers’ support Why a new Strategy? We know that in a world where there will be fewer services and more of us living longer but not necessarily in good health, the role of carers’ will become more vital. This new strategy recognises that: The number of carers is increasing Carers are getting older (21% increase of carers aged 65+ from the 2001 to 2011 census) Carers are providing more hours of care (18% increase at 20+ hours and 13% increase at 50+ hours) For some people caring is lifelong For other people they may care for a few years and then stop and this could happen several times Every day there are people starting to care for the first time (approx. 55 people in Sheffield every day) There are a number of factors that when added together cause health inequalities for carers e.g. emotional stress, poor health, financial hardship We know that If we do not continue to champion carers’ and enable them to continue to care it can have far reaching consequences for the carer and for the person being cared for. For example; poor mental and physical health, financially and / or socially excluded, being subject to or perpetrating abuse. Through this strategy we will continue to build the strength and resilience of carers to continue to care for as long as they wish to. Local requirements Since the last Strategy (2010-2013) there has been progress and good work but many of the concerns described in the previous and national strategies still exist in Sheffield today. National drivers Since 2008 there have been seven national strategy documents published by Department of Health, NHS England and Think Local Act Personal. These documents are also
Young%20Carer,%20Parent%20and%20Adult%20Carer%20Strategy%20(2016-2020)%20-%20FINAL.docx