Care21 - Care for the 21st Century

Projects

A Bold New Vision for Unpaid Carers in Scotland

Care 21 envisions a future in which caring will be recognised as a positive life choice; where carers would be fully integrated into a society that values their work, appreciates their economic contribution and seeks to meet their needs.

The launch of Care 21's report The Future of Unpaid Care in Scotland in September 2005, represents the culmination of an extensive, consultative, research process involving carers, carer support and statutory organisations and those involved in the delivery of care services. It details a new vision for unpaid carers and recommendations on how this could be realised. The two underlying principles advocated by Care 21 are:

  • Greater recognition and respect for unpaid carers as key partners and providers
  • The development of a rights based policy framework to support carers

Listening to unpaid carers - Key recommendations for the future

Care 21's report contains the following recommendations that were cited by unpaid carers as contributing most to ameliorating their quality of life:

  • Giving unpaid carers a right to regular breaks from caring and providing more and better quality respite options
  • Increasing the benefits to people with support needs
  • Offering cash payments rather than services so that unpaid carers can arrange care according to needs and preferences
  • A greater emphasis on information and training, advocacy and guidance, including emotional suppport

A ground-breaking report

Unique in its focus on 'futures research' into unpaid care, a first for the UK and for Europe, Care 21's report has made important progress in considering the future role and outcomes for unpaid carers. The report's recommendations consolidate existing thinking on support for unpaid carers and, it is hoped, will provide the basis for creating new solutions. Full implementation of the report's recommendations would result in a positive future for unpaid carers in Scotland.

For more information on the research process, see www.opm.co.uk/scottishcarers (opens in new browser window).