Mr. Sean Caughey:

In Northern Ireland, according to the 2010 census, there are nearly 214,000 family carers and an estimated 30,000 young carers. Some 49,412 carers are over the age of 60, with 5,816 of them over the age of 75 and 20,340 caring more than 50 hours per week. Amazing as it may sound, 319 carers in Northern Ireland are over the age of 90. When our organisation conducted a snapshot survey recently in the Ballinascreen area of Derry, we found that 71% of carers are caring for more than 20 hours per week. Research shows that the 20-hours threshold is the acceptable level of caring before one risks damage to one's health. Other findings were that 50% of carers have been caring for more than five years, 50% described themselves as scared, worried or anxious, 45% help with personal care for a loved one, and 40% care for more than ten hours per day. These statistics are seen as typical of the situation for carers in rural areas across Northern Ireland.
Support funding for carers' services in the North is mainly provided by the five health trusts and varies depending on the trust area. All areas have a carers co-ordinator. However, the recent austerity cuts have seen the financial commitment for carers dwindle. For example, the Southern Health and Care Trust budget for carers was cut from £150,000 to £90,000. This flies in the face of the recent Compton report, the thrust of which is towards keeping people at home longer. Carer's allowance in the UK is £61.35 compared with €204.00 per week in the Republic.
I will give members testimony from two of the people we have encountered whose circumstances are indicative of the situation for carers in Northern Ireland at this time. The first is from a woman who is caring for her husband:

My name is Louise and I'm 62. My husband had a stroke about ten years ago and I gave up work to care for him. We managed at first but we're struggling to cope financially now. We desperately needed a shower installed and couldn't get help from anywhere so we had to pay for it ourselves on credit. I work part-time to try to make ends meet. I feel like we're in a never-ending downward spiral and we're now in serious debt. I haven't had a break for as long as I can remember.

The second testimony is from a woman who is caring for her husband even though she has had a stroke:

My name is Alice. I'm 74 and I recently had a stroke. I've lost the use of my left arm. I care for my husband who has various medical problems and can't get about on his own. Since the stroke it's become more difficult to manage the physical things like getting him washed and dressed. Luckily for us we haven't lost our sense of humour and he will say to me, "Ach, Alice, all this running about after me is keeping you fit, girl!" I do all the cooking and shopping. We have a lady comes in to help with cleaning at the moment – we call her Mary Poppins (she doesn't know!) - but this service is being taken away. I can't really understand why. The house won't clean itself.

No later than last Thursday, 26 June, the Northern Ireland Minister for Health, Social Services and Public Safety, Edwin Poots, said that the transformation of our health and social care system requires good partnership working with carers. He emphasised the need for greater recognition of the vital role carers play in ensuring people are cared for in their own homes and communities for as long as possible. Speaking at a conference on the future needs of older carers, he stated:

The physical and emotional impact that caring can have on the well-being of individuals should not be underestimated. With an ageing population, carers will become older and we must ensure that they are properly supported to carry out their role without it negatively affecting their own health and well-being. Parents of children with learning disabilities worry what about will happen when they are no longer able to care for them. So it is vital that as carers become older, they are given reassurance and have peace of mind with regard to the future of their dependants.

The Minister continued:

Caring for the carer and planning for the future are therefore vitally important. We must develop new models of services for older carers and their families so they have the knowledge, resources and tools to plan for the future. We must also ensure that they are given practical help, including respite and short break care if needed. “Making a difference to the lives of all in our society remains a firm priority for me. Transforming Your Care [document on reform of health service provision in the North ]means more health and social care services will be provided in the community, therefore carers will play an increasingly important role in providing valuable services that complement those delivered by paid care services.