Budget Statement Response October 2024
Budget 2024: Chancellor must listen to dementia carers’ calls for investment in social care
Frances Lawrence, CEO, Dementia Carers Count said: “We welcome the announcement of additional spending in adult social care and the significant increase in Carers Allowance in today’s budget. This will make a difference to thousands of dementia carers currently struggling across the UK.
“However, with nine in ten dementia carers telling us that they are reaching crisis points, and a third describing their emotional health as bad or very bad, more investment is urgently needed to relieve pressure on carers who are struggling to cope with their caring responsibilities.
“If this government is to achieve their aims of protecting working people and fixing the NHS, we would encourage them to listen to the nearly one million family dementia carers who know better than most how vital greater investment in social care is. Services must have the workforce and resources to offer timely and tailored support to carers. Without this, family dementia carers will continue to leave the workforce to fulfil their caring responsibilities and continue to feel overwhelmed.
“Unpaid carers save our economy millions every day, but at great personal cost. Not tackling the social care crisis is simply storing up far greater problems for the future and dementia carers deserve better.”
Don’t ignore social care
Dementia Carers Count is a member of the Care and Support Alliance. We campaign together for urgently needed change. We urge the Government to prioritise urgent social care reform. This is why we are speaking up and working with others for the changes that will make the most difference to dementia carers.
About Dementia Carers Count
We campaign with dementia carers on the issues that matter to them.
We also provide free, confidential practical and emotional support to carers, through online information and resources, support groups and our Carer Support Line.
Call 0800 652 1102 Monday to Friday 9 – 5.