- 4.68 million unpaid carers across the UK concerned for physical and mental health
- 2.2 million carers worried about ability to cope financially
- More care is being provided by unpaid carers than ever before –even more than during the height of the pandemic
- Overwhelming public support in Wales for more Government action to help unpaid carers
Carers Week charities are calling for an urgent 12-month plan of targeted support for unpaid carers. Many carers in Wales and across the UK are struggling with the ongoing impact, as well as the negative legacy, of the pandemic, together with the strain of the social care and cost of living crises.
For the first time, the impact of caring on their own physical and mental health has topped carers’ concerns, closely followed by money worries.
The researchi, released for Carers Week 2022 (6-12 June), reveals that 86% of the general public in Wales think that their national government should provide additional support to unpaid carers, including increased financial support and investment in care and support services so that unpaid carers can have a break.
The report also shows that there are more unpaid carers in Wales in 2022 than before the pandemic, with 23% of the nation’s adults (approximately 584,134 people) now supporting a relative, close friend or neighbour because of chronic illness, including mental ill-health, dementia, disability, or older age.
The intensity of care they are providing has grown since earlier in the pandemic, with several factors possibly having an impact: Many services remain reduced or closed, vulnerable people continue to shield, pressures on primary health care and the chronic shortage of social care. The number of people providing over 50 hours per week has risen by 30% across the UK.
At the same time, carers with lower household incomes were much more likely to be providing significant amounts of care (i.e, over 20 hours per week). Providing more care also reduces the chance to cope financially as carers are less likely to be able to juggle work and care, pushing them into poverty and financial hardship.
The seven charities supporting Carers Week 2022 are Carers UK; Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Rethink Mental Illness, Oxfam GB and The Lewy Body Society. Together, they are calling for a recovery and respite plan dedicated to the needs of carers, including; specific investment in their mental health support, prioritising carers leave, boosting carer’s incomes to reduce the risk of poverty and hardship, help with food and energy costs and, ahead of the winter, prioritisation in the vaccination programme.
Commenting on behalf of Carers Week charities in Wales, Claire Morgan, Director of Carers Wales said:
“The number of unpaid carers rose drastically across Wales during the pandemic. Many of those who took on additional caring responsibilities during the past two years have had to continue to provide support to the most vulnerable, despite society opening up for others.
“Our new report shows the unsustainable pressure that has been, and continues to be, placed on unpaid carers and its impact on their physical and mental health. It is absolutely critical that carers get the support they need to stay well to be able to continue to care for their loved ones, that working carers are helped to stay in employment and that all carers can feel visible, valued and supported.”
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Media contact
For media enquiries, please contact Carers Wales who are handling media queries for Carers Week:
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07894 981442
About Carers Week:
Carers Week, established by Carers UK 27 years ago, is an annual awareness campaign which takes place recognise the vital contribution made by the UK’s 6.5 million carers. It is also a time of intensive local activity with hundreds of virtual events planned for carers across the UK. We all have a role to play in helping make caring Visible, Valued and Supported, whether it's by providing support to a member of your local community group or connecting with a family member or friend who is caring for someone. You can find out more about Carers Week and how to get involved here: www.carersweek.org Carers Week is led by Carers UK, with the support of six other national charities in 2022: Age UK, Carers Trust, MND Association, Rethink Mental Illness, Oxfam GB and The Lewy Body Society.
Website: www.carersweek.org
Twitter: @CarersWeek #carersweek
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i About this survey:
All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 4317 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 29th April - 4th May 2022. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+).