The Carers Association

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• The Carers Association
• Frank Goodwin
• Chairperson

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What Who we Are

• Registered Company
• Non-Profit
• NGO
• Members are mainly Carers

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Who we Are

• Carers are relatives or friends
• Non-paid workers in the home
• Providing essential care for those with serious
  illness or disabilities.

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History of Carers Association1987
2009

• 1987 Conference on Carers of
  Older People
• 1987 5 people decided to form a
  Carers Association
• Priorites were Lobbying, Publicity
  Support Groups

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Carers Association Today

• National NGO
• 18 Centres around Ireland
• 200 Staff
• Turn over in 2008 5.8 Million
• 1,000 members, 10,000 on database

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Our Services

• Advocacy
• Training
• Support Groups
• Careline (Phone)
• Information
• Website
• Home Respite Care
• Drop-in centres

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Facts about Family Carers
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Census Question
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Facts from Census 2006

• 160,917 Carers 4.8 of population
• 62 female.
• 11 over 65 years of age.
• 40,883 provide full time care
• 90,544 are in paid working Caring (56).

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CARERS WORK ECONOMIC VALUE

• 3.7 million hours a week
• 2.5 billion per year.

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Research Findings

• CARERS ISSUES
• Access to information on rights, entitlements
• Availability of respite and emergency care
• Stress and emotional strain of caring
• Recognition of the role and contribution of
  Carers
• Assistance applying for statutory entitlements
• Isolation and loss of independence
• Financial difficulties.

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Government Financial Support Carers in 2008

• 43,569 Carers receive the Carers Allowance each
  week.
• 2,628 Carers received Carers Benefit.
• 54,426 Carers received the Respite Care Grant,
  once a year.

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CARERS ALLOWANCE RESPITE GRANT

• Maximum Rate 220 per week
• Respite Grant once a year for verified full time
  carers 1,700
• Other entitlements Medical Card etc
• The above are all Means Tested

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SUMMARY

• Carers are an integral part of our health and
  social services provision
• Carers work 3.7 million hours per week
• Save the State 2.5 billion per year

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Challenge CUT BACKS

• Due to Government Policy Action, there is and
  will continue to be greater demands stresses on
  Family Carers.
• Due to an ageing population there will be more
  older people to be cared for at home than ever
  before.

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CUT BACKS

• Home Helps
• Home Care Packages
• Home modification Grants
• Rural Transport

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CUT BACKS

• Delayed admission to hospitals
• Early discharge from hospital
• Waiting lists for nursing homes
• Priority given to hospitals for nursing home
  admissions

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Proposed Budget Cut Backs

• Respite Grants
• Half Rate Carers Allownace
• Christmas double payment
• 3-5 cut in all Social Payments.

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What we are doing about it

• Empower Carers
• Lobbying Elected Members of Parliament
• Lobbying Local elected Representatives
• Meeting key Ministers Opposition
• Working with other NGO

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• Its not about charity

Its about Equality Justice
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• Thank you