Politicians on course to fail carers

Replies

By suejane

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Fri 5 Feb 2010 13:52

Proper support? Sorry for the cynical reply!

By woodstock

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sat 6 Feb 2010 01:12

Any support? Define support!!!!

By kerry.

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sat 6 Feb 2010 11:06

Have posted my comments and am awaiting approval by a moderator- lets hope I was polite enough not to injure their poor feelings eh!

By woodstock

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sat 6 Feb 2010 13:00

Were your comments removed Kerry?

By kerry.

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sat 6 Feb 2010 19:56

Ooh I dont know Fen. Are they not there??????????? I'll check now........

By kerry.

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sat 6 Feb 2010 19:59

This is what I wrote and it was on there just now.......

I find it an insult that we are struggling on meagre benefits when the CEOs are on £65k plus py. We get £7 per day for the most onorous tasks and it never ends. And surely a 'heavy end carer' is someone who cares for more than 50 hpw? We have 2 SLD boys both with very complex needs and are such hard work even for the most basic of things. Our respite is minimal and sometimes cancelled at last minute. Also we can only get it for one child which I don't understand (when i cared alone I only got it for eldest). We've both given up well paid jobs to care and I feel there is no way out, despite gaining a good degree. How can i work? Hubby will be expected to cope alone for the majority of the time if I did and this would be even more strain on an already very strained family life. So what happened to all this money? I never even knew about it 'til recently and certainly never saw any of it in any way.
I do use the carers forum on PRTC but otherwise nothing! I must agree with Clives comments above...
What's going on here?

Would have liked to have been more specific but you don't get enough words haha, probably just as well

By charles47

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sun 7 Feb 2010 18:45

Just one question. What does Carole's salary have to do with the fact that she is trying to get the politicians to shift their priorities - surely that is something to welcome rather than attack?

By woodstock

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Sun 7 Feb 2010 22:33

I think Kerry, like most of us, is fed up to the hind teeth with the rhetoric.

By charles47

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Mon 8 Feb 2010 05:33

Who isn't? But Carole stated our case, not that of the politicians, and - as I said on that board - has at least had experience of caring that she has tried to put to good use in helping carers.

I'm not saying PRTC is perfect - no organisation can be - but why shoot down a perfectly valid statement on the grounds that you don't like the fact that someone is paid to do their job?

And yes, before anyone points it out, I also work for a carers' charity. I've never made a secret of the fact. Can someone tell me what's wrong with that?

By woodstock

Re: Politicians on course to fail carers
Mon 8 Feb 2010 10:39

Well nothing Charles except if you take a very high salary and don't actually deliver much whilst accepting a gong from the Queen - at least thats what I read that people get annoyed about. There is also a feeling expressed that they operate at a level which doesnt include or communicate with the carers themselves.
I do know that you have worked tirelessly in your area and achieved results. I think carers are questioning what is being achieved here.
You cant blame people for commenting on the salary when they themselves are caring, and many have been caring for donkeys years and for more than one person in many cases, on a pittance and still they see no change but constantly here about a lot of money being sloshed about - some of which is intended to be given to carers and isnt -and some of which keeps people in a post for which on top of that high salary they get public honours.
Speaking personally I get upset when people get medals for working with or for disabled people and the Queen says to them while pinning a medal on their chest "it must be very rewarding!" the suggestion being "why on earth would you do it otherwise?" Surely not because they are human beings and its just life - its what WE do and not for medals.
Have I understood correctly that Carole cared for her husband 27 years ago for a few months? I think a question was raised - correctly or not- as to whether that really constitutes experience that enables you to understand carers' lives. Very sad situation, yes, and shows that life takes tragic turns, but I dont think you really start to feel what it is like until its a long term caring situation and you hit burnout and the temporary goodwill of friends and neighbours evaporates when they realise its a non-finite situation.