A survey by Carers Scotland for Carers Rights Day today has found that half of carers were being made ill by money worries.
The financial toll of caring was stark, with almost half (47%) of carers cutting back on food and heating to make ends meet; and nearly a third (32%) of carers were living on their overdraft.
The survey, which took place between September 2010 and July 2011, also found a very high percentage had cut back on holidays (77%) leisure activities (74%), buying clothes (68%) and going out with friends and family (73%).
Carers struggle to work and care, and an estimated 1 in 5 carers have given up work or reduced their hours , losing an average of £11,000 a year .
Debt looms for carers and over 4 in 10 surveyed (45%) said caring had pushed them into the red. On top of lost earnings, illness and disability also bring increased costs, higher household bills, for specialist equipment, foods, medicines, additional care and extra transport.
Money worries cause stress, and almost half of the carers who responded to the survey (45%) said they were suffering from anxiety and depression because of concern about finances.
The isolation and stress of caring can cause mental health problems but debt exacerbates this. Of the carers surveyed, 79 per cent said they had suffered mental health problems, and that figure rose to 85 per cent when the carers had been in debt.
“These figures make shocking reading,” said Simon Hodgson, Director of Carers Scotland. “There are over 650,000 people in Scotland providing unpaid care and they are saving the Scottish economy £10.3 billion every year – that is the cost of providing NHS services in Scotland. It is a scandal that, despite this contribution, carers end up sick with worry about how to make ends meet.
“We are calling on everyone in society to help carers access support. Many carers are not given the advice and information they need – so if you know someone who cares for an ill or disabled loved one, make sure they get advice. But we need radical reform of carers’ benefits to stop families who care falling into poverty.
“Because the system is so complex, many people struggle to access the benefits they need. Getting people the right advice can be time-consuming, that is why we hold Carers Rights Day to let people know about all the support that is available.”
Carers Rights Day is organised by Carers Scotland and Carers UK and, across the UK more than 650 local groups, including GPs surgeries, disability and community groups are running events. This year, Sainsbury’s have sponsored an essential guide to caring which is available free to carers from Carers Scotland:
- Guides can be ordered by calling 0808 808 7777
- Or downloaded by clicking here.
ENDS
Further information
- Simon Hodgson, Director, Carers Scotland
- Fiona Collie, Policy & Public Affairs Manager
Notes to Editors:
- To mark Carers Rights Day on 2 December, Carers UK surveyed 4,282 carers between September 2010 and July 2011 and asked them about their financial circumstances. The majority of respondents completed the survey online, with 105 respondents completing paper versions.
- 2,758 of the respondents were from England, 401 from Scotland, 383 from Wales and 102 from Northern Ireland.
- The report on this survey, “The Cost of Caring: How money worries are pushing carers to breaking point”, will be published on 2 December 2011 and will be available on the Carers Scotland website at: www.carerscotland.org.
- Over 650 groups across the UK will run events on Carers Rights Day to give carers advice and information on accessing financial and practical support with caring, and help to juggle work and care.
- Case studies and spokesperson available on request.
