A survey of the health of unpaid carers found that those carers who provided high levels of care were twice as likely to suffer ill-health as non-carers. Nearly 21 per cent of full-time carers said they were in poor health, compared to less than 11 per cent of the non-carer population.
Source: In Poor Health: The impact of caring on health, Carers UK (020 7566 7626)
Links: Report (pdf) | Carers UK press release
Date: 2004-Dec
Research showed that unpaid carers experienced poorer health than the general population. It was based on interviews with people before, during, and after a period of time spent caring.
Source: Michael Hirst, Hearts and Minds: The health effects of caring, Social Policy Research Unit/University of York (01904 433608)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Oct
An annual survey of young carers being supported by specialist young carers projects found that two-thirds provided domestic help in the home; 48 per cent provided general and nursing-type care; 82 per cent provided emotional support and supervision; 18 per cent provided intimate personal care; and 11 per cent provided childcare. Half the young carers were caring for 10 hours or less per week; one third for 11- 20 hours per week; and 16 per cent for over 20 hours per week. Some (2 per cent) were caring for more than 50 hours each week.
Source: Chris Dearden and Saul Becker, Young Carers in the UK: 2004 report, Carers UK (020 7566 7626)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2004-Oct
The Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004 received Royal assent. The Act aimed to ensure that all carers knew that they were entitled to an assessment of their needs; placed a duty on councils to consider a carer's outside interests (work, study or leisure) when carrying out an assessment; and promoted better joint working between local councils and the National Health Service to ensure support for carers was delivered in a coherent manner.
Source: Carers (Equal Opportunities) Act 2004, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Act | DH press release | Age Concern press release | Carers Online press release
Date: 2004-Jul
A report sought to address the a lack of research evidence about the effectiveness of befriending services. It focused on the views and experiences of workers at a number of befriending schemes for children and/or adults with learning difficulties in England, together with those of people with learning difficulties using the schemes, their befrienders, and the parents of children attached to the schemes. Most schemes were found to be unable to meet the demand for befrienders.
Source: Pauline Heslop and Carol Robinson, Befriending: More than just finding friends, Shared Care Network, c/o Barnardo s Despatch Services (01268 522 872)
Links: Summary (pdf)
Date: 2004-Jun
A third reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to strengthen carers' rights - particularly in the areas of health, employment and lifelong learning.
Source: Hywel Francis MP, Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 14 March 2004, columns 572-587, TSO Links: Text of Bill | HOC research paper (pdf) | Hansard
Date: 2004-May
A new book considered how normative assumptions about the meanings, practices and relationships of care were embedded in people's everyday lives. It explored the ways in which these shaped people's sense of self and the nature of their relations with others; and it examined how social policy and welfare practices 'constructed' these relations and gave or denied them meaning and validity.
Source: Janet Fink (ed.), Care: Personal lives and social policy, Policy Press, available from Marston Book Services (01235 465500)
Links: Summary
Date: 2004-Apr
A survey found that half of all foster carers received no income for their work. A further 20 per cent received less than 100 per week. Fewer than one in 10 received an amount which would reflect the minimum wage for 40 hours per week.
Source: Press release 27 April 2004, Fostering Network (020 7620 6400)
Links: Fostering Network press release | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Apr
The Prime Minister said that the government was planning to offer a new right to flexible working for up to 5 million carers looking after elderly parents, infirm relatives or close friends.
Source: The Guardian, 23 April 2004
Links: Guardian report | EOC press release | UNISON press release | Carers UK press release
Date: 2004-Apr
A second reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to strengthen carers' rights - particularly in the areas of health, employment and lifelong learning.
Source: Hywel Francis MP, Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill, TSO (0870 600 5522) | House of Commons Hansard, Debate 6 February 2004, columns 1015-1076, TSO
Links: Text of Bill | HOC research paper (pdf) | Hansard | Carers Online press release
Date: 2004-Feb
An article said that between 1995 and 2000 the amount of unpaid adult care provided in the United Kingdom increased by around 10 per cent. The value of voluntary work done in the same period fell by almost 26 per cent.
Source: Perry Francis and Harminder Tiwana, 'Unpaid household production in the United Kingdom, 1995 2000', Economic Trends, January 2004, Office for National Statistics, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Article (pdf) | ONS press release (pdf) | Guardian report
Date: 2004-Jan
A private member's Bill was introduced, designed to strengthen carers' rights - particularly in the areas of health, employment and lifelong learning.
Source: Hywel Francis MP, Carers (Equal Opportunities) Bill, TSO (0870 600 5522)
Links: Text of Bill | HOC research paper (pdf) | Carers UK press release
Date: 2004-Jan