In November Carers Trust carried out a survey for with unpaid carers. Today the findings have ben published. Over 1,550 unpaid carers across the UK, thank you if you were one of them, provide alarming evidence of a deep-rooted failure by successive governments to understand and meet the basic support needs of millions of people struggling to provide unpaid care for a family member or friend.
Headline findings include:
- 91% of unpaid family carers feel ignored by the Government.
- 84% of survey respondents disagreed, or disagreed strongly, with the statement ‘I have confidence in the Government’s ability to improve the lives of unpaid carers.
- 49% of survey respondents said they’d had to use their personal savings because of their caring role.
- 51% of survey respondents said they’d had to give up on hobbies or personal interests because of their caring role.
Read the findings in full, together with Carers Trust’s recommendations to the Government in our report:
Carers Trust response
In response to the survey findings, Carers Trust is calling on Government to develop a new UK Government Strategy for Carers. The strategy should include:
- Improved availability of statutory care and support for people with care and support needs of all ages, so that unpaid carers’ caring roles are sustainable.
- Improved support for unpaid carers themselves, including regular breaks and respite so unpaid carers can live a meaningful life alongside caring.
- A reform of Carer’s Allowance so that unpaid carers are better protected against financial hardship.
To read Carers Trust full Pushed to The Edge article, click here.
