ADASS responds to Carers Trust statistics

Cathie Williams, Chief Executive of ADASS, responds to Carers Trust’s findings outlining the financial strain facing unpaid carers:

“These findings make for worrying reading, but are all too familiar. Unpaid carers often face more financial strain than the general population, and this winter is set to be even tougher on those drawing on support and their carers. Our own poll of Adult Social Services Directors showed that 3 in 4 had seen an increase in people who could not afford to pay their care fees.

We support recommendations in Carers Trust’s report calling for more funding and support for unpaid carers, in order to prevent carer breakdown and maintain the health and social care sector. With almost two thirds (64%) of unpaid carers giving up or reducing work hours, it is clear that people at the heart of social care, and the UK’s workforce as a whole, stand to benefit from a sustainable funding settlement for unpaid carers. We all need to live, work and care and as a country, in the longer term, we will need to address proper paid leave rights for caring in the same way as we have parental leave.”