No Choice But to Care
Around 10 million people are unpaid carers across the UK.
The majority of unpaid carers have no choice but to take on a caring role. And carers are having to do more, with the lack of a robust social care system to turn to.
While providing unpaid care can be rewarding, it also comes with significant negative impacts on carers’ lives.
National charity Carers UK has published a new report, marking Carers Week, called: No choice but to care.
It reveals that:
- 62% of those who are currently providing or those who have previously provided unpaid care said that they had no choice in taking on the role because no other care options were available.
- The impact of caring has been more negative than positive for all areas current and former unpaid carers were asked about, particularly for mental health (63%), physical health (53%), Job and ability to work (48%) and finances and savings (47%).
- The negative impacts as a result of caring were also felt most strongly by those who had no choice but to take on an unpaid caring role as well as women and those aged 45-54.
- The research also found that 73% of members of the public surveyed for the research think that unpaid carers should receive more support from the next Government, particularly financial support and investment in social care.
What needs to change?
The report recommends the establishment of a National Carers Strategy, review and reform of social security benefits for carers and better workplace protections and workplace support for unpaid carers.
To ensure carers’ health and wellbeing is better supported, the report recommends a new duty on the NHS to have regard to unpaid carers as well as further investment in social care and carers’ breaks.
The report also makes recommendations aimed at employers, public bodies and specific recommendations for the UK nations.
Read the report in full here