A strategy aiming to improve support for carers in a “meaningful and sustainable way” is to be published by the end of spring, the Scottish government has pledged.
An analysis of responses to a government consultation on a national care service has revealed widespread support for greater consideration of the needs of unpaid carers, and their health and wellbeing.
Social care minister Kevin Stewart has announced the Scottish government will engage with unpaid carers to devise the plans.
The Coalition of Carers in Scotland welcomed the plans, and its inclusion of carers as a key contributor – but highlighted the need for short-term relief.
The Director of the organisation, Claire Cairns, said: “We feel that priority must be given to covid recovery, with substantial investment in short term measures to support the many carers who have had to provide increasing levels of care, with little or no support.
“In advance of the creation of a National Care Service, the Carers Strategy should support the move towards providing carers with a right to regular breaks from caring by increasing short break provision.
“It should also set out measures to increase financial support for carers and protect the health and wellbeing of both adult and young carers.”
UK-wide research by the Carers UK found the pandemic has seen 81% of carers take on increasing hours of care, often with less or no outside support, and many more taking on aregiving responsibilities for the first time.
The charity's Scottish branch said the strategy must include "first and foremost, what is needed to help carers and young carers recover from the significant impacts of the pandemic on their lives".
"Priority should be given to ensuring that they have flexible access to services to improve their physical and mental health, as well as support for employment, finances and education, all seriously impacted by caring, and caring in a pandemic.
"Nearly 400,000 people became carers during COVID19 and identifying and signposted them to support remains critical."
Research on the experiences of more than 8,000 unpaid carers across Scotland revealed close to 70% are facing the reduction or permanent closure of critical support and day services. Not one surveyed unpaid carer had seen their support return to pre-pandemic levels.
Being an unpaid carer was found to have negatively affected the health and wellbeing of four in five of those surveyed in Edinburgh and Midlothian, with local charity VOCAL calling the pandemic a “watershed” moment.
Of more than 700 individual respondents to the Scottish government’s consultation, 40% said they were, or once were, an unpaid carer; 13% of organisations represented or supported unpaid carers.
Kevin Stewart said the strategy will engage with unpaid carers over the coming months “to draw on the knowledge and lived experience of unpaid carers so that the strategy is shaped by those who best understand the many challenges faced”.
Analysis of consultation responses emphasised a “one size fits all” approach to support is not appropriate for such a diverse group.
Most unpaid carers responding to the consultation preferred a hybrid approach to entitlements, to “meet the needs of everyone” rather than only the minority of carers who fit strict eligibility criteria.
In common with most respondents, Carers Scotland agreed, in its response which brought together views from 239 carers, that a right to respite should be universal.
However, if adequate services are either inconsistent or not in place, the charity said this right is “rather meaningless” in practice.
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