Third of carers have not had a day off for five years, report reveals

Almost a third of long-term carers (32 per cent) have not had a day off in five years, according to a new report.

The study found a lack of respite available for the 3,841 people surveyed who have been caring for five years or more.

Among all those who have been caring for a year or more (5,168), 40 per cent have not had a day off from caring for more than 12 months.

The report, from the charity Carers UK, warned that people were at “breaking point” due to the lack of support they receive, while some have seen 0 Helena Herklots: Carers can quickly reach breaking point a cut in the social care offered to them.

The study comes as new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) show that 8 per cent of the UK private household population are informal carers for another person.

Of these, 59 per cent are female and 29 per cent spend 35 hours a week or more on caring.

The report found 68 per cent of current carers who have been caring for over a year and have not had a day off for more than a year say their physical health has worsened.

Meanwhile, 72 per cent said their mental health has suffered.

Helena Herklots, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “Without access to breaks, carers can quickly reach breaking point.”