Asian families need more help caring for disabled loved ones

By Nadeem Badshah

MINISTERS have been urged to step up in 2020 and tackle problems faced by Asian families looking after a disabled loved one.

Campaigners say there remains a low uptake among south Asians for accessing some support services.

They have also highlighted the high number of benefits assessments that people with serious disabilities have to endure and a lack of awareness among some families about support groups.

A report by the Asian People’s Disability Alliance last year warned about an ignorance of health and social care among families, while authorities “appear content to presume that this is a choice made by ethnic minority communities”.

The study slammed social care for undermining disabled Asian women’s independence through funding cuts and welfare reform.

Rushanara Ali, Labour MP and senior fellow at The Young Foundation think-tank, told Eastern Eye: “People who have caring responsibilities for those with disabilities should receive respect, support and services for the hard, and often selfless work, they undertake.

“If true, the reports of a low uptake of these services by Asian families looking after someone with a disability is deeply concerning, and the government should do more to help address this.”

There has been six different Conservative MPs appointed as minister for the disabled in just seven years. The current person in the role is Justin Tomlinson.

The ministers have been criticised over controversial assessments for Personal Independence Payments (PIP), employment and support allowance which are currently delivered by private contractors.

Mandy Sanghera, a government adviser on disabilities issues, said the welfare system still needs a lot of work.

She told Eastern Eye: “I think local authorities are trying to balance their books and support the most in need. It’s difficult as parents don’t always know their rights, especially around benefits.

“Disability Living Allowance was a little easier to apply for, PIP is more points-based and confusing for everyone regardless of age or ethnicity.

“There is a real shortage of good quality provision. I believe we don’t always need Asians to provide support to BAME people – a lot of organisations have a good level of cultural awareness and can work in a person-centred way that use quality interpretations. It’s about the disability and not race.”

Between now and 2030, 25 per cent of new entrants to adult social care with learning disabilities will belong to ethnic minority communities, according to Lancaster University.

Separate research in December showed that the UK is one of the worst-performing countries in the European Union (EU) for protecting disabled people from poverty.

EU figures showed the UK is the tenth worst of the 28 EU member states on disability poverty with nearly a third of disabled people in poverty or at risk of being destitute. This is above the average for the EU of 28.7 per cent.

NHS England is investing £75 million to improve specialist community support for learning disabled and autistic people.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokeswoman said: “It’s unacceptable for disabled people from any background not to receive the support they need to access health or care services.

“We expect [health] trusts to make arrangements to accommodate their needs, and local authorities must assess people’s needs and provide support if needed.”