Absent carers: 76% of over 40s in the North West care for a loved 1, but 18% are unable to visit frequently

A study has found that 76% of over 40s in the North West:- 'care' for a loved 1 living on their own, but, of these, 18% are unable to visit frequently; leading to fears about the care recipients' physical wellbeing, loneliness, and vulnerability.

At a time when half a million people in the UK are estimated to be waiting for care assessments, reviews, or for care to begin1, the new research highlights the challenging reality for those receiving care from or caring for a loved one.

The findings were part of a study that questioned more than 6,000 participants, including 807 from the North West, as part of research into the care needs of older people in the UK on behalf of age tech innovator Sentai.

With relationships ranging from parents to grandparents to family friends, the study found that 76% of people in the North West (who are aged over 40) cared for someone in some capacity who lived on their own; be that physically caring for them, or simply keeping an eye on their wellbeing and checking they're OK. And of those who said they cared for someone, 18% admitted that, despite this, they were unable to visit them frequently; running the risk of leaving them isolated and alone, with 93% of respondents saying they worried about them when not present.

When questioned around the main fears they had about the people they cared for, 36% said they feared a:- 'fall' the most, while 31% worried about:- 'an emergency' where they couldn't contact help. A further 15% worried about loneliness most, while 12% were concerned about the care recipient's general vulnerability. 4% stated their biggest concern centred on them taking their medication regularly, while 2% worried about them being able to get out of bed independently.

With research from Carers UK showing that 5 million people in the UK (1 in 7 of the workforce) are juggling caring responsibilities with work, the latest study was commissioned by Sentai, an AI driven companion that's designed to be with older relatives 24/7, providing friendly and intelligent company, while giving their families peace of mind.

Founder and CEO of Sentai, Phil Marshman, who was inspired to create the brand following the experience of looking after his own father, commented, saying:- "Caring for an older relative, or any loved 1, is a challenge. And this challenge is the daily reality for many. The care sector in the UK is under immense pressure; and this just serves to underline the scale of the problem. Many people are having to care for older relatives themselves; either bridging the gap as they wait for care, or supplementing existing care services. Most though, are juggling this responsibility with work, and it's no surprise 93% worry when they're not there."

He continued:- "My own experience of being an informal carer to my 87 year old father saw me look to develop a solution to help lessen this impact. I understand balancing work and care, the guilt of not being able to be there more, the worry over them being alone; and it's from this that Sentai was born. Technology already helps us in so many aspects of life and age-tech has a huge part to play in the development of new care systems and how we support our ageing population to live independent and fulfilling lives for longer."

Age-tech is any type of technology that improves the lives of ageing adults but ultimately it is something that has the potential to aid with the challenge of delivering care to the ageing population, bridging the gap between independence and more formal care.

Sentai, founded in 2020, is a pioneering smart companion offering assistance that links users with the loved ones who care for them. Centred around routines, Sentai learns its user's daily habits and provides conversational prompts and reminders for everything from the time they usually start their day to medication and bin day. As the day passes, updates are sent to the user's loved ones letting them know that everything is on track, or more critically, when things aren't.

For more information, please visit:- Sentai.AI.
 

Over £6.7 million cash boost to improve housing support for drug and alcohol recovery in the North West

PEOPLE in alcohol and drug recovery in North West England will soon have access to housing support, helping to break the cycle of addiction and improve health outcomes. Over £6.7 million will be allocated to 4 local Authorities in the North West, as part of a wider £53 million being allocated to 28 local Authorities across England with the greatest need. The funding will allow for local Authorities to create new housing support schemes tailored to meet local need in the North West. Examples include:- specialist housing caseworkers supporting people to access and maintain safe and suitable housing. Support will also look to help people create sustainable and long term recovery by maintaining independent living.

►  In North Lancashire, the new funding will meet a demand for a women's only abstinence based housing offer. Housing Support staff from housing, drug and alcohol and health services in Lancashire will receive a programme of training across substance misuse, housing and health provision to support skills development and integrated working.

►  In Manchester, specialist housing caseworkers will work out of 3 prevention hubs to be established across the City, providing a rapid response to housing issues that may affect people securing or maintaining accommodation over the long term.

►  In Wigan, peer support navigators with past experience of drug and alcohol treatment will support people struggling to maintain independent living to sustain their accommodation and improve recovery outcomes.

Health and Social Care Secretary Steve Barclay said:- "We're supporting those recovering from drug and alcohol addition by addressing the link between improved treatment outcomes and a stable home. This £53 million funding, targeted to the Regions with the greatest need, will support the Government's ambition to reduce overall drug use to a historic 30 year low."

Health Minister Neil O'Brien said:- "Alcohol and drug dependence can have a devastating impact on the lives of people, their families and wider society. It is essential to break this cycle of addiction. The £53 million housing support funding will play a key role in testing how housing can help break this cycle, improve recovery and help people to live happier and healthier lives."

People in treatment for drug and alcohol dependence are often easier to support if their housing needs are addressed at the same time, as there is a strong link between having a stable home and improved treatment outcomes.

They will also expand our evidence base on treatment and recovery, with learnings helping to inform and develop future policy, in partnership with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Director of Addictions and Inclusion, Rosanna O'Connor said:- "The need for better housing and employment support for people dependent on drugs and alcohol is a core part of the current 10 Year national drugs strategy. We have known, for too long, that people in drug treatment with housing problems do less well in their recovery. What we know less about is how to address these problems. For the 1st time, dedicated funding is available to improve housing support. The Office for Health Improvement and Disparities and the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities are working closely with 28 of local Authorities up until 2025 to test and learn from specific approaches to housing support for this population, and Government will take the learning from these areas forward as part of its work to implement the Drugs Strategy."

This supports recommendations from Dame Carol Black's independent review, outlining housing support as a key strand needed to improve the effectiveness of drug prevention and treatment to help more people recover from dependence.

It will support the Government's commitment to its 10 year drug strategy, which sets out the ambition to reduce overall use towards a historic 30 year low, getting people into treatment and deterring recreational drug use.

This aspect of the wider strategy is part of a total package of £780 million to rebuild drug treatment and recovery services, including for young people and offenders, with new commissioning standards to drive transparency and consistency.

Dame Carol Black statement:- "Addressing the housing related needs of people in treatment with drug and alcohol dependence was a critical part of my Independent Review of Drugs. I'm pleased that Government is working with 28 local Authorities across England to test the effectiveness of housing support interventions over the next 3 years. Learning from these areas will inform and drive forward the 10 Year Drugs Strategy, making the case for safe and supportive housing in recovery from addiction."

For further information on the Government's 10 year drug strategy: From harm to hope: A 10 year drugs plan to cut crime and save lives, can be seen on the website:- Gov.UK.

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