Millions more people will be forced to care for elderly and disabled relatives because of a lack of investment, disability campaigners have said.
Millions more people will be forced to care for elderly and disabled relatives because of a lack of investment, disability campaigners have said.
The Disability Rights Commission estimates that the number of unpaid carers will increase from six million to nine million over the next 25 years.
The Disability Rights Commission (DRC) estimates that the number of unpaid carers will increase from six million to nine million over the next 25 years.
Commission Chairman Sir Bert Massie blamed the government's failure to invest in public services.
Commission Chairman Sir Bert Massie blamed the government's failure to invest in public services.
The Commission is launching a Disability Agenda, calling for change.
The Commission is launching a Disability Agenda, calling for change.
Job sacrifice
Sir Bert said failure to act might mean "new patterns of inequality and disadvantage".
Sir Bert said failure to act might mean "new patterns of inequality and disadvantage".
Most of the new carers would be women and many would have to sacrifice their jobs to care for relatives, he said.
Most of the new carers would be women and many would have to sacrifice their jobs to care for relatives, he said.
Inequality
Many disabled people have been invited to look to the stars, only to find the ground opening beneath them Sir Bert MassieDisability Rights Commission
He said: "The positive developments of the last decade have undoubtedly helped to create a more open road for disabled people to do the things they want to in life.
He said: "The positive developments of the last decade have undoubtedly helped to create a more open road for disabled people to do the things they want to in life.
"But the unhappy irony is that, at the same time, the public services, resources and support many need to take up these new opportunities have either not materialised or have gone into decline because of rationing.
"But the unhappy irony is that, at the same time, the public services, resources and support many need to take up these new opportunities have either not materialised or have gone into decline because of rationing.
"Many disabled people have been invited to look to the stars, only to find the ground opening beneath them.
"Many disabled people have been invited to look to the stars, only to find the ground opening beneath them.
"It is clear that without action now the challenges of the coming years will create new patterns of inequality and disadvantage that Britain can ill-afford."
"It is clear that without action now the challenges of the coming years will create new patterns of inequality and disadvantage that Britain can ill-afford."
He made his comments as the commission launched its Disability Agenda, which aims to achieve "reform, investment and culture change" in public services.
Social care
Sir Bert made his comments as the commission launched its Disability Agenda, which aims to achieve "reform, investment and culture change" in public services.
The agenda focuses on 10 areas including equal rights, child poverty, education, employment, health and housing.
It calls for reform of anti-discrimination law to make it clearer and fairer, and a new law on social rights such as independent living.
The DRC believes there is a link between disability and child poverty, and that child poverty can be eradicated by 2020.
The commission also wants action taken to give disabled people of all ages the skills needed for participation in society, independence and employment. It targets an employment rate for disabled people of 60% by 2014.
On social care, the agenda says individuals should have more choice and control, there should be national minimum entitlements, and that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.
Reducing the gap in health between the disabled and other people, cutting homelessness and tackling the abuse and harassment of disabled people are other aims.
Unrecognised work
Jenny Watson, of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: "We need to see real investment, now and in the future if families are not always going to fall through the gaps of public service provision."
Jenny Watson, of the Equal Opportunities Commission, said: "We need to see real investment, now and in the future if families are not always going to fall through the gaps of public service provision."
Unrecognised
Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, said providing care to family and friends often went unrecognised.
Imelda Redmond, chief executive of Carers UK, said there needed to be a "reversal" of the pattern of "poor investment in social care".
"We need to reverse the trend of poor investment in social care and the very low levels of state benefits available to carers," she said.
"Providing care and support to family and friends who need help because of illness or disability still often goes unseen and unrecognised," she said.
The Local Government Association has already warned that care would have to be withdrawn from 400,000 people unless funding was increased.
"There is real pressure for people to remain in work - and work for more years - and equally strong pressures to provide support to a loved one. The choice couldn't be more difficult.
"We need to reverse the trend of poor investment in social care and the very low levels of state benefits available to carers."
Over the next 20 years the number of very elderly people in the UK is expected to increase at three times the rate for the rest of the population.
The Local Government Association has already warned that care would have to be withdrawn from 400,000 people unless funding were increased.
Are you a new carer? Have you had to sacrifice your job to care for a relative? Are you expecting to become an unpaid carer in the future? Send us your experiences.
Are you a new carer? Have you had to sacrifice your job to care for a relative? Are you expecting to become an unpaid carer in the future? Send us your experiences.
