Age UK shine a spotlight on older unpaid carers
As part of the Carers Week coverage on the inequalities unpaid carers face (that we covered here), Age UK has highlighted the specific impact of caring on older people.
Publishing analysis about older unpaid carers, Age UK has shared that:
- 2.1 million unpaid carers are aged 65 plus.
- 420,000 unpaid carers are aged 80 and above.
- 55% of older carers have a long-term illness or disability.
- 85% of older carers worry about whether they will be able to keep caring or providing support.
As part of their research, an older carer told Age UK:
“Although my 94yr old mum, who has dementia, lives in her own bungalow with carers 4 times a day, I am responsible for all her finances, shopping, organising house and garden maintenance etc. I also have a 86yr old husband with heart failure so I am basically running two households. Running between two homes and all that entails, along with the emotional stress, has begun to take its toll in the last few years and I find I worry more about things which affects my sleep and get extremely tired, both physically and mentally.”
Read more from Age UK about unpaid older carers here: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/latest-press/articles/1.6-million-older-carers-worry-whether-theyll-be-able-to-keep-caring-or-providing-support-to-their-loved-one-says-new-age-uk-analysis/