Carers Week - the Lords' turn to hear from carers
20 June 2012
Following an event with MPs on
Monday, 2 carers of people with Parkinson's visited the House
of Lords yesterday.
They talked to peers about the needs of carers and those with
Parkinson's.
They also spent time talking to
Carers Week ambassador Fiona Phillips, the TV presenter and
journalist, about their shared experiences of caring.
Fiona has been a carer herself.
Image: Roz Wells (left) and Hazel Waters (right) with Fiona
Phillips
Shock at care bills
Hazel Waters cares for her husband who has Parkinson's and
Parkinson's dementia.
She met the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for
Parkinson's, Baroness Gale, whose father had Parkinson's.
Hazel said:
I fund all my husband's care myself and worry hugely about the future.
On top of this carers face a postcode lottery of services. I spoke to peers about the urgent need to address these issues.
"Often people do not realise that social care is means-tested,
unlike the NHS, and get a huge shock at the scale of care
bills.
"I fund all my husband's care myself and worry hugely about the
future and how I will pay for my own support.
"On top of this carers face a postcode lottery of services
depending on where they live.
"I feel this is deeply unfair and spoke to peers about the
urgent need to address these issues."
Voice for carers
Roz Wells supports her husband who was diagnosed with
Parkinson's at the young age of 35.
Roz commented:
"Many people don't realise that Parkinson's isn't a condition
that just affects people in old age. They don't realise there are
families with children out there who can be deeply affected.
"Services are being cut and no-one seems to be asking what will
happen when all the benefit cuts to disabled people like my husband
come in on top of this.
"To be able to voice this at an event like this is such a
positive thing, talking to those who can change the law for carers
but also people like Fiona Phillips who have a platform to speak
out publicly too."
Sign up to our Campaigns Network to take part in regular actions about carers and other issues.
Take a look at our information and
support for carers of people with Parkinson's.
Make a difference
The charities involved in Carers Week, including Parkinson's
UK, are calling on government to take action to support carers'
health.
This includes:
- reforming the social care system
- giving carers breaks from caring
- requiring GPs to do more to identify carers and signpost them
to support.
- email
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