I hope the Guardian presses on with this story. It's on a par with Windrush & the Post Office scandal.
“One of the key things this story leaves you feeling is just how little value we place on unpaid carers,” said Patrick. “We very rarely talk about the fact that they basically save the NHS and social care system from collapse. And because we don’t value them, nobody ever really thinks about, how do we make their lives a bit easier.”
This is going to be another Post Office scandal. The DWP is mainly in error here.
"Tens of thousands of unpaid carers looking after disabled, frail or ill relatives are being forced to repay huge sums to the government and threatened with criminal prosecution after unwittingly breaching earnings rules by just a few pounds a week".
UK powers of attorney: important for anyone with a relative who is losing capacity, and also sensible planning for anyone a bit older than middle age.
Which? magazine have published evidence about UK banking problems for attorneys, and the FT has started a small campaign to improve things. There's a call for evidence of bad banking/financial experiences (email money@ft.com) to push the FCA to act.
1/2 #carers
Banks need to wake up to powers of attorney demands - https://on.ft.com/48sx0qT
Interest in home-based care without carer burnout is steadily increasing - especially as assisted dying options and better death literacy increase in different countries.
One of the hidden costs of #longtermsickness & the crisis in #socialcare is the toll it takes on in-work #carers trying to balance #work & care, with many employers not knowing how extensive the issue is.
#workingfromhome has helped #workers (where they are able) better balance caring with be 'present' for work.
While, as FT notes today, the first step to helping such employees navigate this situation, is to know about it, how many will trust their bosses not to uses such info against them?
One of the points @phpledge and @josh makes is that you can ask for safer conferences to attend. We've done it before by pushing for conferences to have COCs with anti harrassment policies.
We need our community leaders to push for rigorous public health policies as #CovidIsStillHere
In 2013 @scalzi decided to take a stand on COCs by announcing he wouldn't be the guest of honor, or a panel participant unless the conference had an anti harrassment policy.
In other non apocalyptic news, #Lavender season is here in the UK. Took our mum to Carshalton Fields. She rocked the place in her Jams, bless her.
Highly recommended for those looking for a change of scene. Especially #carers.