Million-strong ‘unsung army’ of carers struggling to look after family
A new report has called for urgent support for the “unnamed army” of one million people providing full-time care, whose numbers are growing due to an aging society and rising health problems.
The Solution Foundation underlines that this burden disproportionately affects families in the poorest half of the country, leading to widespread struggle.
Their research shows that almost a third of working-age adults in low-income families have a disability, compared to less than a fifth in better-off families.
In modest homes, one million people spend 35 hours or more a week caring (equivalent to a full-time job), making paid employment extremely difficult.
The think tank’s findings reveal that around one in three carers in poor homes are fully unable to work due to their duties.
The report said Britain has made great progress in supporting working people with childcare responsibilities in recent years, from flexible working rights to extended parental leave and higher statutory pay.
It now calls for efforts to support those with adult care responsibilities.
Mike Brewer, deputy chief executive of the Resolution Foundation, said: “Britain is getting older and sicker, with more of the population disabled.
“While these trends affect society as a whole, they are most acute in the poorest half of working-age families across the country.
“While we talk a lot about the effects of aging and health problems, their impact on the demand for free care is largely absent from political debate.
“This is despite Britain having an ‘unsung army’ of one million people doing at least 35 hours of unpaid care work each week, the equivalent of a full-time job.
“It is time to provide better support for these caregivers and their families, as we have done for working parents in recent years.”
In response, a Government spokesman said: “We understand the huge difference carers make and the challenges they can face.
“That’s why we’ve delivered the biggest ever cash increase in the Carer’s Allowance earnings threshold, and unpaid carers can also get support including short breaks and respite services through the Better Care Fund.
“In addition, we are reviewing the practice of Carer’s Leave and evaluating the benefits of paid Carer’s Leave.”
