Millions of people in the UK have little choice about taking on an unpaid caring role as there are so few alternative options, according to analysis of a recent YouGov poll.
This is an issue for employers because there are 2.5 million unpaid carers holding down jobs in England and Wales, data from the 2021 Census has shown.
Now, fresh data and analysis, by charity Carers UK, has found that 62 percent of UK adults, which is equivalent to 10 million unpaid carers, said they have no choice about taking on an unpaid caring role.
In contrast, just 29 percent of current and former unpaid carers said that other care options were available, but they decided to take on the role.
The findings were based on analysis of a YouGov poll of 6,500 people and ONS population data, by charity Carers UK.
With so many people seemingly left with no other options than to become unpaid carers, it has serious implications for the UK’s workforce because caring responsibilities can negatively impact jobs, a person’s ability to work, mental health and other important areas of life.
The charity warned that the situation may be getting worse. Its analysis of the data showed that people currently providing unpaid care were more likely than former unpaid carers to say they had no choice in taking on a caring role (66 percent compared to 59 percent), due to a lack of available care options.
More negative than positive
For many, performing the role with little support is taking a heavy toll. Caring can be rewarding, but respondents to the YouGov survey said the impact of providing unpaid care was more negative than positive.
The biggest negative effect was felt by current and former unpaid carers who said they had no choice about taking on a caring role. Among this tranche, 70 percent said the situation had had a ‘slightly’ or ‘very’ negative impact on their mental health, with similar negative impacts reported by 60 percent for their physical health, and 56 percent experienced negative effects for their job and ability to work.
More than half, 54 percent, said that the lack of choice about whether they took on an unpaid caring role had negatively impacted their finances and savings, and 43 percent said it had hit their relationships
Gender disparity
The report also found that women were more likely than men to say unpaid caring had a ‘very’ negative impact on mental health (27 percent compared with 19 percent) and on their job and ability to work (22 percent compared with 16 percent). A higher proportion of women said unpaid caring had a ‘very’ or ‘slightly’ negative impact on their relationships compared with men (42 percent compared with 30 percent) and on their physical health compared to men (59 percent compared with 42 percent).
People aged 45 to 54 were most likely to report that they have no choice when taking on an unpaid caring role (70 percent) and were most likely to say that unpaid caring has had a ‘very’ or ‘slightly’ negative impact on their finances and savings (56 percent), job and ability to work (64 percent) and pensions (30 percent), compared to other age groups.
Unpaid carer Dorothy Cook from Bristol stopped working more than a decade ago to care for her husband Melvin, who has a rare brain disease. She said: “If I had been asked 15 years ago where I saw my life in 2024, I would never have dreamed it would be as a full-time carer. I had started my own business and it was thriving. I worked long hours and it wasn’t always easy. But I will honestly say that being a full-time unpaid carer has been the toughest and most challenging role of all.
“I was forced into giving up my dream life, job, friends, relationships and my physical and mental health suffered. I am financially poorer. I do it because of my love for someone who has found themselves dependent on me. I also have little choice about caring because the system is unable to provide the care my husband needs. It leaves me without enough breaks and the essential support I also need for my own health. I’m often caring 24 hours a day, seven days a week which is exhausting.”
More support for carers
An additional YouGov Political Omnibus poll of more 4,200 members of the public showed widespread backing for more support to be given to unpaid carers. It showed that 73 percent wanted to see more support from the next government.
Carers UK estimated that around 16.1 million people have been or are currently an unpaid carer. Since 2011, the number of hours of unpaid care being provided has increased significantly, with 1.5 million people in England and Wales now caring for over 50 hours every week.
Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said: “These findings demonstrate how caring can have a profound effect on every aspect of life and wellbeing, from mental and physical health, being able to work, or affecting their future income including pensions. That’s why we need to see a future Government deliver action across Government, in the form of a National Carers Strategy. With an ageing population, this is becoming ever more important.
“Carers Week (10-16 June,2024) is an important annual opportunity to ‘put carers on the map’. We want unpaid carers to know they are not forgotten, and they are not alone. Many are at breaking point, facing huge challenges with their caring responsibilities. On top of this they are struggling to manage their own health and wellbeing. Carers are worried about their long-term health, security and ability to care in the future.”
