Guide looks at carers' rights
13 Jun 07
Organisation to launch information booklet on legal issues around unpaid care
Carers Scotland will tomorrow launch a major information guide to the legal rights of those looking after family mambers.
"Carers and their Rights: a guide to law relating to carers" provides information on the law on issues affecting unpaid carers, including assessments, paying for care and flexible working. It is part of a continued campaign to promote carers' rights.
There are more than 660,000 unpaid carers in Scotland looking after an ill, frail or disabled family member - 1 in 8 of Scotland's adult population. For over 100,000 of them this takes up 50 hours or more each week. Every year, 178,000 people become carers.
Carers Scotland (www.carerscotland.org) claims that carers save the Scottish economy more than £5 billion each year yet, as a result, they experience ill health, poverty and discrimination.
Patrick Begley, director of Carers Scotland, said: "Carers need the right information at the right time to help them access services to support them in caring. However, finding out about what is available is not always the same as actually receiving a service. Despite their invaluable contribution to Scottish health and social care system, carers frequently find it difficult to obtain the resources they require to support them in their unique role.
"Only 1 in 1,000 carers have actually received a carer's assessment and, a recent survey found that an alarming three-quarters of carers had not had a regular break from their caring activities in the past 12 months - including 38% who had not enjoyed a single day off."
The launch takes place at the Scottish Parliament at 1 pm tomorrow, 14 June.