Carers
Carers Trust
Give a carer a break
The Saga Respite for Carers Trust aims to reward carers with a free holiday, but with the closing date for this year's entries on August 31, 2008, time is running out to nominate that special person
Nominations for some of the UK's most deserving carers have been flooding in to the newly launched Saga Respite for Carers Trust. With the deadline for nominations fast approaching time is running out for people to either nominate themselves, or another person, for a free holiday, including appropriate spending money, and if required professional respite care.
In June 2008 the new Saga Respite for Carers Trust was launched to provide a well-earned holiday for some of the people who care selflessly for their loved ones, whilst ensuring continuity of care. Holidays will include river and ocean cruises, UK and European breaks and more exotic locations. Saga will also provide spending money and travel insurance where required.
Recent research by Saga Populus poll highlighted that a significant number of carers are left out of pocket, two-thirds receive no financial support and almost a quarter (24 per cent) have never taken a holiday away from their caring responsibilities. That figure rises to 31 percent among those who have been carers for longer than 10 years. But the savings to the country - and taxpayers in general - are enormous.
The Saga poll also identified the impact of having less personal time and space – 37 per cent of carers chose this as the biggest impact they faced - and the effect of such responsibilities on carers’ health – more than a third (35 per cent) said they suffered from anxiety and three out of five (61 per cent) felt stressed or suffered from tension.
European Union directives say that UK workers must work no more than a 48-hour week and have 20 days a year holiday over and above weekends and bank holidays. However carers, who are on duty 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every week of the year have very little help or respite from the relentless task they perform so selflessly.
Andrew Goodsell, Chief Executive of Saga said: “Thousands of carers in the UK look after their loved ones but many do not have either the money, or the support, to be able to take a much needed break. The Saga Carers Trust aims to provide as many of these carers as possible with a holiday while also ensuring continuity of care for their loved ones. We urge people to nominate themselves or carers they feel would benefit from a well-earned break before this year's closing date of 31st August."
Information on this site is for interest only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. You should consult your own doctor about any specific health concerns.
