Petition to Recognize the Need for Two Carers in Cases of Severe Disability

For individuals with severe disabilities, daily life can require constant, intensive support from those around them. This care is often more than one caregiver can reasonably manage alone, as it involves complex, round-the-clock responsibilities such as physical assistance, medical care, and continual supervision. Yet, despite these demands, current regulations only recognize the need for a single carer per person. This outdated policy places an extraordinary burden on families, often leading to significant mental, physical, emotional, and financial hardship.

Families caring for loved ones with severe disabilities are stretched beyond capacity. Under the one-carer policy, primary caregivers bear immense mental strain from the continuous demands of providing care, often resulting in burnout and mental health challenges. Physically, caregivers face exhaustion and even long-term health consequences from lifting, assisting, and attending to loved ones without respite. Emotionally, the responsibility of providing high-stakes, constant care weighs heavily, isolating caregivers and impacting their well-being and relationships.

Financially, the one-carer policy only compounds the stress. Families caring for loved ones with severe disabilities already face significant expenses, often including specialized equipment, medical treatments, and therapies. Without recognition of a second carer, these families are left to shoulder these costs with inadequate financial support, forcing many into difficult financial situations and sometimes sacrificing their own basic needs.

By updating the current policy to recognize the need for two carers in cases where intensive, continuous care is required, we can provide families with the essential support they deserve. This change would alleviate the immense pressure placed on caregivers, allowing them to share responsibilities, reduce burnout, and offer a sustainable level of care to their loved ones.

We call on policymakers to amend this policy to officially recognize the need for two carers for individuals with severe disabilities. This compassionate update will reflect the true needs of families, addressing the mental, physical, emotional, and financial toll they face daily. Supporting two carers per individual ensures caregivers can provide dignified, high-quality care without sacrificing their own well-being.

Please sign this petition to advocate for a fair, realistic policy that supports the families and individuals impacted by severe disabilities. Together, we can work toward a future where caregiving is manageable, sustainable, and appropriately supported.