Disabled people 'face uncertainty'

Enable Scotland issued an action plan to local authorities calling for them to support the country's ageing network of carers.

Chairman Alex Russell said: "This is the first generation of people with learning disabilities who will outlive their parents. We need to look at what will happen to these people when their families are no longer around. Just as importantly, we need to think about the pressures older carers face now and find ways of supporting them."

The action plan was drawn up in a report, Living from Day to Day, released to mark the first day of Carers Week.

The report urges local authorities to identify and prioritise older carers to create proper planning for emergencies and the long-term future.

It also calls on councils to appoint a specialist worker dedicated to supporting older carers and to co-ordinate with health boards.

Mr Russell - who cares for his disabled daughter - said: "We wanted to bring this issue to the attention of the local authorities.

"We have revealed how caring affects people's lives, but we want councils to find out more about the numbers of people affected and look at ways of supporting them in a co-ordinated and sensitive way.

"As well as the local authority response, we hope we can inspire carers themselves to make plans for the future."

Charity volunteers drew up the report after talking to carers in Ayrshire and Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway.