Carers Rights Day – 25th November 2021
Carers Rights Day takes place on Thursday 25 November this year.
In a recent survey of nearly 6,000 carers, it has been highlighted that:
- Four in five unpaid carers are providing more care for relatives
- 78% reported that the needs of the person they care for have increased during the pandemic
- Two thirds (67%) worried about how they will cope through further lockdowns or local restrictions.
Carers need to know their rights wherever they are in their caring journey: whether they are in the workplace, supporting the service user during an admission on an inpatient facility or in the community, when interacting with professionals or at home. This Carers Rights Day, we want to empower carers with information and support, so they can feel confident asking for what they need.
We also want carers to know how to tell us what is working well and where they feel we can improve. At GMMH, we have a dedicated Carers Experience Questionnaire. The more responses we receive each month, the more responsive we can be to the needs of our carers, family, and friends.
Carers can complete this questionnaire via our website here: https://www.gmmh.nhs.uk/share-your-views
Whether you're a new carer or somebody who has been caring for someone for a while, it’s important for you to understand your rights and to be able to access the support that is available as soon as you need it. Many people are taking on more caring responsibilities for their relatives and friends who are disabled, ill or older and who need support. Each year, Carers Rights Day helps us:
- ensure carers are aware of their rights
- let carers know where to get help and support
- raise awareness of the needs of carers.
This year's Carers Rights Day campaign will focus on raising awareness of the rights that unpaid carers have. The pandemic has had a massive impact on the lives of carers, affecting access to services, the ability to juggle work and care and much more. That's why it’s more important than ever that carers are aware of what they have the right to.
Carers can also access a series of written resources to support you in your carer role to navigate through services here: Carer booklets, leaflets and more | Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS FT (gmmh.nhs.uk)
