CARING AROUND THE CLOCK
THERE ARE MORE THAN FIVE MILLION UNPAID CARERS IN THE UK LOOKING AFTER FAMILY AND FRIENDS
NEARLY 800,000 people are providing at least 50 hours a week of unpaid care for relatives with long-term illnesses, disabilities or care needs, new figures have revealed.
That is more than the maximum 48 hours a week that people in paid employment are legally allowed to work.
The 765,000 individuals providing care for at least 50 hours make up 14 per cent of the UK’s 5.4 million informal carers, according to the Department for Work and Pensions. Informal carers are those who don’t get paid for the care they provide, which is usually for a family member or friend. Carers’ day-to-day jobs could include shopping for someone, doing their paperwork, or helping clean, dress and feed them - all for free. Often, unpaid carers are employed in other paid jobs, too. In fact, nearly 30 per cent of those providing at least 50 hours of care a week get their main source of income from wages.
The total time informal carers spend looking after a person varies.
Around 1.2 million people in the UK provide up to four hours of informal care a week.
Some 1.9 million provide between five and 19 hours of informal care.
A further 432,000 spend between 20-34 hours of their week caring for free, as do the 270,000 working between 35-49 hours a week.
A spokesperson from Carers Trust UK said: “Three in five people will become a carer at some point in their lifetime. People can become a carer for a shorter period of time to support someone following an accident, support someone at the end of their life or support someone during an illness, for example.
“It is important to realise that in order to look after someone else, carers need to look after themselves too.
“Many carers may find they feel they have to do more because health and social care services don’t always work as well as they could.
“Carers Trust would like to see the government doing more to support carers – particularly by finding a longterm sustainable solution in social care funding.”
A government spokesperson said: “Most people will care for friends or family members at some point in their life, and it’s right that we recognise the vitally important role of carers. “That’s why we have ensured they are central to our care and support reforms, including stronger rights for carers in the Care Act and our upcoming Carers’ Action Plan. “Anyone who is undertaking caring responsibilities should check if they are eligible for Carers Allowance, which is also protected from the benefit cap.”