Caring and Juggling Responsibilities

Did you know that across the UK, there are 5.8 million carers who provide unpaid care and support to a family member, friend or neighbour who is disabled, has an illness or long-term condition, or who needs extra help as they grow older.

Over 1 in 5 of those carers are providing 50 or more hours of care per week, and the proportion of people providing between 20-49 hours of care is on the increase, and 59% of those unpaid carers are female.

Who is considered a carer?

NHS England says – “A carer is anyone, including children and adults who looks after a family member, partner or friend who needs help because of their illness, frailty, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction and cannot cope without their support.” The care they give is unpaid.

Many carers don’t see themselves as carers and it takes them an average of two years to acknowledge their role as a carer (NHS website: Understanding Carers). It can be difficult for carers to see their caring role as separate from the relationship they have with the person for whom they care, whether that relationship is as a parent, child, sibling, partner, or a friend.

It’s likely that every one of us will have caring responsibilities at some time in our lives with the challenges faced by carers taking many forms. Many carers juggle their caring responsibilities with work, study and other family commitments. Some, in particular younger carers, are not known to be carers. They don’t tell relatives, friends or health and care professionals about their responsibilities because of a fear of separation, guilt, pride or other reasons.

This means that the sort of roles and responsibilities that carers have to provide varies widely. They can range from help with everyday tasks such as getting out of bed and personal care such as bathing, to emotional support such as helping someone cope with the symptoms of a mental illness.

Of the 5.8 million UK carers, at least 376,000, and as many as 1 in 5, are young people (aged 16-25) who have all the challenges of being young with all the responsibilities of being an adult, and they’re often left to face these alone.

Children’s charity Barnardos say: “Being a young carer can make young people feel good about themselves and proud of the useful skills they learn. However, many young carers don’t see themselves as carers and miss out on getting the help and support they often so desperately need and deserve.

Young carers take on caring responsibilities not just occasionally but as part of their everyday lives, often over a long period of time, meaning they also often miss out on opportunities that other children have to play, learn and be young.

Many struggle educationally with being able to focus on school whilst overwhelmed by other worries or can be bullied for being ‘different’. They can become isolated, with no relief from the pressures at home, with 1 in 3 young carers saying that caring makes them feel stressed.”

The impact of caring on finances

Research commissioned by Carers UK found that 1.2 million unpaid carers live in poverty, and 400,000 live in deep poverty in the UK, and their recent State of Caring survey found that 61% of unpaid carers are worried about living costs and managing in the future. A quarter of carers (27%) are struggling to make ends meet and 28% of carers are cutting back on essentials like food and heating.

Here are some useful guides to finances for carers:

Financial support | Carers UK – Link to Carers UK’s specific financial advice

Benefits and financial support if you’re caring for someone – GOV.UK – Government’s website advice and links

Grants & Financial Support for Carers | Carers Trust – The Carers Trust website with links to funding sources and advice

Financial support for carers | What benefits carers are entitled to – A link to Mobilise Online – information for carers, provided by carers.

The impact of caring on health

The Census 2021 in England and Wales found that about 1 in 4 carers reported ‘not good health’ after adjusting for age, compared with fewer than 1 in 5 non-carers, and The 2024 GP Patient survey in the UK found that 70% of carers said they had a long-term physical or mental health condition, disability or illness.

With the most recent NHS SACE survey finding that 20% of carers felt they are neglecting themselves, and Carers UK’s State of Caring survey of 2023 finding that over three quarters (79%) of carers feel stressed or anxious, and half of carers (49%) feel depressed, it is important to try to make self-care a priority.

Here is Carers UK’s YouTube video with some tips on Coping with Stress – https://youtu.be/tcp6bZAQAh4?si=fm2KGS1a579YPEiE

To take care of your health and wellbeing, good nutrition, getting enough sleep and exercise are great ways to look after yourself physically; Carers UK’s site offers tips on these matters as well as coping with complex feelings and relationships for mental health support too – Your health and wellbeing | Carers UK

Interested in volunteering to be a carer?

Here is a short video from Carers UK on the benefits of volunteering – https://youtu.be/FLxZRmhebf0

Benefits include:

Learning new skills

Whether you’re studying for a qualification or looking to change career, volunteering is a great way to develop your skill set. It also gives you the opportunity to practice and develop your interpersonal skills, since you’ll be spending quality time socialising and working with others.

Building long-lasting friendships

Sometimes life can leave us feeling a little isolated. Perhaps you’ve recently moved to the area and haven’t met new friends, or maybe you’ve lost someone close to you. Whatever the reason, volunteering can connect you with your local community and help you make friends with like-minded people.

Improving your wellbeing

It’s well known that being mentally and physically active can do wonders for your wellbeing. From educating people in your local community to facilitating a fun activity, volunteering offers many ways to give your wellbeing a boost!

Giving back to your local community

Maybe you’ve benefited from a volunteer service in the past, or you’ve had first-hand experience care workers. Volunteering gives you an opportunity to give something back.

Boosting your confidence

Would you like to be more confident? Doing good for others can generate a sense of pride and accomplishment. This can help you feel better about yourself and improve your own confidence.