Carers Count Campaign 
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FAMILY CARERS AND THE
CENSUS ON SUNDAY THE 10TH APRIL 2011 We are writing to you to request your support for the Carers Count Campaign. This Census provides a unique opportunity to quantify the unpaid work of Carers and will for the first time include under 15 year old Family Carers. The campaign is being organised by a group representing ten voluntary agencies (attached). The purpose of the campaign is to ensure that Carers are aware that Question 22 about “unpaid help” is about Family Carers and to ensure all Family Carers, part-time and full-time, complete it. On examining the results of the earlier Census in Northern Ireland and the UK, we are convinced that Carers in Ireland are under-represented in our Census of 2006. The gap is mainly in the group of carers who are also in paid employment and under age carers, though there is also a deficit in the fulltime carers numbers. We believe that your support for this project would assist greatly in this campaign. Specifically we are asking you to use the channels of your organisation and network, such as, newsletter, agenda of meetings, email circulation lists, notice boards, websites etc. to alert as many people as possible about Census Question 22 (Q22) (see attached question, poster ).
Accurate answers to Q22 depends on Carers: 1. Recognising that they are Carers and that Question 22’s “Unpaid help” refers to them. 2. Accurately counting their hours of caring per week. This is a non-political campaign and is supported by the CSO. Please let us know if you will support this Carers Count Campaign and in what way. You may contact the campaign by e-mailing: cduffy@carersireland.com Yours sincerely,
Frank Goodwin, Chairperson: Carers Count Campaign 8th February 2011
The purpose of Question 22 is to gain an accurate measure of the number of carers and the amount of work carried out by Carers.
UNPAID: Being in receipt of the Carers Allowance or other such payment from the Dept of Social Welfare does not constitute payment in this regard.
PERSONAL HELP: This includes regular daily tasks, some of an intimate nature, that the person receiving care is unable to perform for themselves. This will vary for those who are elderly, physically or mentally disabled, or suffering from a variety of health problems but will typically include washing, dressing, feeding, shopping and medical visits. It also includes personal supervision essential for the safety and comfort of the person receiving care. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
YES YOU ARE
My mother is now confined to a wheelchair. Beyond meals and dressing she is fine and enjoys television so I can get on with my normal life around the house. But she gets very distressed if I go out, so I just don’t go out? Am I a full time carer? YES. YOU ARE A CARER. My daughter broke her leg this year and for two months I did everything for her. Does that count as caring? NO YOU ARE NOT. It does not constitute REGULAR in the meaning of the question. My husband and I cannot take a holiday as we cannot leave my aunt alone. My sister would happily stay here but my aunt insists that I stay. Am I carer. Also my husband works full time but helps a lot with lifting and transport. What hours should he put in? YES. YOU ARE A CARER. YES. YOUR HUSBAND IS A CARER and should count his hours.
YES. YOU ARE A CARER.
COUNTING YOUR HOURS OF CARING How many hours of care are you providing to you relative or friend
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