The relationship between carers and government is, to a large extent, mediated by carers' charities. Supposing one day, like tomorrow, carers collectively decided that we would like to present our own unmediated views to government and we would like to have some funding to facilitate this ? Who should we ask ?
Of course, carers have their own carer-led organisations. Several of them. They are, however, dependent upon a relatively small group of activists. There is, inevitably, in carer-led groups, a great deal of emphasis placed upon the immediate alleviation of the day to day stress of caring and upon information and advice giving. Those carer groups which place a greater emphasis on campaigning, like Carer Watch, don't have the human and financial resources to do what is necessary to combat the insidious propaganda emanating from government sources. Carer charities are too inclined to keep on the good side of government to be entirely reliable.
It is my view that much work needs to be done on consciousness raising among carers. We need more carer activists and greater awareness of the issues around caring that we most need to concentrate on. This all requires resources. What independent, no strings attached, resources could we access ?
8 comments:
"How many charities for carers are there ? I don't just mean the large national ones, but the local ones and specialist ones too."
Thousands, Dugsie, many thousands. But most of them are disguised as disability-specific charities. Most carers dont see much point getting active for carers rights, when they have a holistic and symbiotic relationship with the cared-for person.
Individuals, families, or society? I;d go for the latter: but as a carer I don't separate my economic needs much from those of my family.
It's a point of view Victor, But not the only one, I think. I have heard many stories and believe the truth to be multi-faceted.
Lets just count the numbers up - I would guess less than 20,000 carers are active members of any carers charity, whilst there are probably hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of carers who are active participants in disability charities, fundraising for services, research into cures or treatments, all that kind of thing.
Now unless we claim that they are all politically naive and require re-education, then we have to assume that they are adults voting with their feet. They just can't see the point in having a separate political dpcuyqidentity from their caree.
I think that I've already dealt with this in the original piece. Conscious raising is a process, with many elements in it. It's not simply about 'requiring re-education.' Objectively the roles of carer and caree are different, regardless of how they feel about their relationship.
The piece I refer to is, of course, 'the conscious carer'.
I am also a parent. The role of father is different from that of carer. But I don't have some great need to join a fathers movement. I wonder why?
The subjective part of this is that your need is not necessarily the same as anyone else's need. The objective part is, as you have pointed out, that the role of father is different from that of carer.
Excalibur you said that:
“Most carers don’t see much point getting active for carers rights, when they have a holistic and symbiotic relationship with the cared-for person”
Firstly perhaps you could explain what you mean by the terms holistic and symbiotic in this context.
The dictionary definition of symbiosis (when applied to people not plants and animals) is “ a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship between two people or groups”
If you are denying a need for carers to have a political identity of their own I take it that what you mean by the above is that what benefits the caree benefits the carer. But this is not necessarily true. In fact in the case of the 24/7 sole carer is often not the case.
I am sure most carers want what is best for their caree, but that is not always what is best for the carer. I am a 24/7 sole carer. In order to care I have had put many of my own needs aside….including the need for financial security and including the need for simple things that most people take for granted like being able to go out for a walk on a nice day or getting a nights uninterrupted nights sleep.
You use the fact that many carers are active in disability charities fundraising etc.to support your assertion that carers do not see a point in having a separate political identity from their carees. I am one of those carers, I am a trustee of two charities; one that addresses the needs of people with a specific disability and another that addresses the needs of carers. (note they are not the same needs being addressed). Because I am involved in these charities it does not mean that I believe these services should be dependent on charity. My being actively involved in charity work is in a way an extension of my role as a caree; it is not the same as my having a political position on the role of charities in a civilised society. Nor does it mean that I do not see the need for a separate ‘political identity’ from my caree.
And yes I do think that many people (not just carers) are politically naïve. And of course many people are apathetic because they feel powerless to change anything politically.
As for a separate political identity for carers, of course caring situations are very different…..the sole 24/7 carer will for example have to sacrifice far more of their own needs than a person that shares care with other people or a person that cares for someone who does not need the same degree of care. For some caring is only part of their lives for others it defines their whole existence.
I love my caree…but I am not my caree…I am an individual as well as a carer…I have my own needs too.
It may be that the sole 24/7 carer is more acutely aware of the powerlessness of their own situation, of the denial of their own needs than the carer with lighter caring responsibilities.
What do you think? Despite the difference in their situations do they both have a common cause, a shared political identity? I think they do, do you?
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