The Value of Unpaid Carers
According to new research from the University of Sheffield and Carers’ charity, Carers UK, the value of unpaid care in England and Wales is now nearing the equivalent of a second NHS.
Unpaid carers save the government £162bn every year. They compared this to an estimated £164bn in funding for the NHS during 2020-21.
The value of unpaid carers has increased a whopping 29% within the last decade.
Why Are We Needing Care?
Ageing Population: England’s population is ageing. In the next 25 years, the number of people older than 85 will double to 2.6 million. The proportion of older people aged above 75 with a long-term condition has risen.
With access to social care becoming less and less available, those in need are relying on their family and friends for their care needs. However, less access to social care means little support for those supporting someone with care needs, meaning lives are being put on hold.
Let’s Take a Closer Look at the Numbers
- The most recent ONS Census data from 2021 suggest the number of unpaid carers across the whole of the UK could be 5.7 million.
- This would mean that around 9% of people are providing unpaid care. However, Carers UK research from 2022 estimates the number of unpaid carers could be as high as 10.6 million (Carers UK, Carers Week 2022 research report).
- 4.7% of the population in England and Wales are providing 20 hours or more of care a week.
- 59% of unpaid carers are women (Census 2021). Women are more likely to become carers and to provide more hours of unpaid care than men. (Petrillo and Bennett, 2022)
- One in seven people in the workplace in the UK are juggling work and care (Carers UK, Juggling Work and Care, 2019).
The Struggles of Unpaid Carers
Finances: With the current cost of living crisis, carers are facing huge pressures on their finances: 25% of carers are cutting back on essentials like food or heating and 63% are very concerned about managing their monthly costs (Carers UK, State of Caring 2022).
Mental Health: Carers can find it difficult to juggle work, family needs and caring needs. Usually resulting in being constantly busy caring for others in some way or another and not having time for themselves. Leading to burnout, depression, and anxiety.
Impact on Health
- Caring can have a significant impact on health and wellbeing. 60% of carers report a long-term health condition or disability compared to 50% non-carers (Carers UK analysis of GP Patient Survey 2021).
- 29% of carers feel lonely often or always (Carers UK, State of Caring 2022).
- Burnout is very common amongst those in the social care sector, read more about burnout
The Care Reform
What can the government do with the upcoming Care Reform to include and help unpaid carers?
If the Care Reform is actually implemented and not continually pushed forward. We can hopefully look forward to some positive changes.
- Improved rights, recognition, respect and support from the NHS and Social Care
- Recognition of the financial hardship and the additional impact of the cost of caring
- Support, rights and flexibility in employment
- No more discrimination and promotion of equality with the rest of the social care sector and NHS
How Can We help?
Here at The Blue Sky Social Care Card, It is part of our mission to recognise Unpaid Carers as equals to the rest of the Social Care Sector and the NHS. The Blue Sky Social Care Card can help with public accessibility as a carer. With our ID card, you are formally identified as a part of the Social Care Sector and as an Unpaid Carer for the person/people you support. The Blue Sky Social Care Card can also give a little helping hand with and the cost of caring, with a range of online and in-store discounts available.