More than a million carers are over 60

VULNERABLE and disabled people face a crisis because their carers are becoming too old to look after them, charities warn.

A third of carers in England and Wales – more than a million – are over 60.

And the number of carers aged 75 and over has risen by 35 per cent since 2001, says charity Age UK.

But 95 per cent of six million carers, who save taxpayers millions of pounds, fear their council could not offer adequate care if they could no longer do the job, a survey has indicated. Three in four family carers have no long-term plan for what would happen if they could no longer provide support, says disability charity Sense.

Just one in three councils said they knew how many disabled adults are being cared for by family and friends at home.

And only a quarter of councils are able to make contingency plans, according to Freedom of Information requests.

Sense deputy chief executive Richard Kramer said: “After a lifetime of caring, no parent or disabled adult should be left neglected and living in fear about the future. We need better planning and greater investment in social care to combat this looming crisis.”

Mark Ward, 50, from Peterborough, cares for his daughter Kerrianne, 24, who has epilepsy and learning disabilities.

He said: “I have no idea what would happen if I was sick. It’s very stressful.

“I find myself hoping that she passes away before me. No parent should feel like this.”