"Carers are being let down" - report

[dutchman]

Carers are being let down by a lack of support.


Carers' Centre boss Pauline Dye

That is according to a report released this week, which found three in four were unprepared for all aspects of the job.

Eight in ten said they were not even aware of the support available to them, while one in three believed they were given wrong advice.

Over 2,100 carers were surveyed in the Prepared to Care? report, released to coincide with of Carers Week, which runs until Sunday.

There are around 32,000 carers in Coventry alone.

Pauline Dye, manager at Coventry Carers’ Centre, said: "This research highlights the need to ensure they are supported from day one of their caring role.

"The survey shows the huge emotional, physical and financial effects that caring can have when people are not prepared for the impact of their caring role."

Other figures to emerge from the report included six in ten carers admitting to experiencing depression and nine in ten claiming extra stress because of the role.

Half of carers said they had experienced difficulties in their relationship with 61 per cent finding it difficult to maintain friendships.