27/10/2025
Publicity over recent days has started to shine a bright light on the appalling situation in which unpaid carers in our Island community find themselves.
About time!
Carers Jersey is just that – about caring – for our unpaid carers. Who else does?
It is extremely disappointing that there is no established proven recognition or genuine acknowledgment of unpaid carers – they remain unseen members of our community, often suffering silently, either physically, mentally or financially, sometimes all three.
Unpaid carers don’t need to have someone looking into their situation – they need help! Now.
Carers Jersey demands the separation of the Pension Allowance and the Carers Allowance. It is discriminatory! Unpaid carers can find themselves in an impossible, untenable situation trying to navigate a complicated, unjoined up system whilst coping with the everyday stresses of caring for a loved one.
The Island needs to urgently establish a firm definition of an unpaid carer which is included in related legislation. This piece of work, to date, has not been undertaken despite suggested draft legislation having been provided to the Government of Jersey.
It has been been made clear already what the costs would be to the island if these carers stopped caring or became so ill they would be unable to care. The implications on the health service are vast. Prevention is not only preferable to cure but crucial.
We will, hopefully make some progress in the coming months.
MEMORANDUM: Dr. Margaret Bayes, MBE spent very many years of her life, indeed right up until her death earlier this year, raising awareness of such issues and battling for unpaid carers to be actively recognised and supported. On one hand, she would have been delighted that these matters have resurfaced, on the other distraught that nothing ha s been done earlier.
Jersey Association of Carers (Carers Jersey)
