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Gordon Lishman‚ Director General of Age Concern:

“This is a huge win for carers in the UK. It will not only help to protect parents providing care but could also have implications for the ever-increasing number of people in the UK providing care to an older relative.

“This ruling should help reinforce carers rights at work and will place a requirement on employers to provide flexible working and additional support for employees with caring responsibilities.
 
“We are urging the Government to also amend the Age Regulations to outlaw discrimination by association in relation to age. This would provide further protection for carers of an older person‚ regardless of whether or not the older person is considered disabled.”

ENDS

Notes to the Editor

• Age Concern is calling for the equality bill to extend the concept of 'discrimination by association' to age as well as disability.
• Thousands of carers are missing out on their share of the annual £740 million in unclaimed carers’ benefits because they do not realise they are entitled to the extra cash or feel the system is too confusing. Older carers‚ or those caring for an older person‚ can contact their local Age Concern for clear‚ free and confidential help and advice‚ or to call our free helpline number on 0800 00 99 66 for more information.
   
  FACTFILE
  
  • Around 1 in 8 adults in the UK is a carer
  • People are most likely to be a carer in their 50s‚ and the numbers are set to grow as our population ages.
  • Most carers look after older people‚ an estimated 70% of those cared for are 65 years or over
  • 1 in 3 carers (38%) are caring for their parents‚ while almost 1 in 5 (18%) are caring for their spouse
  • By 2037 the number of carers could have increased to 9 million due to an ageing population and changes in community care policy
  • Recent Carers UK research revealed 72% of carers polled were worse off since they started caring‚ with 33% in debt
  • 53% of those surveyed said that financial worries are affecting their health