New findings highlighted by Dementia Carers Count show family carers are increasingly overwhelmed, as stretched support services leave many struggling in isolation.
Across the UK, an estimated 700,000 people provide unpaid care for someone living with dementia. Many deliver round-the-clock support while balancing work, finances and wider family commitments, a combination experts say is driving exhaustion and burnout.
‘An Impossible Situation’
Support organisations warn that dementia carers are often managing highly complex needs without formal training or regular respite.
“They’re providing complex care, often in isolation, without proper training or respite opportunities,” representatives said. “The impact on their own health and wellbeing is profound.”
Common pressures reported by carers include:
- Severe sleep deprivation due to night-time care needs
- Financial strain from reducing working hours or leaving employment
- Social isolation as friendships and activities fall away
- Anxiety, depression and stress-related illness
Many carers describe feeling trapped between responsibility for their loved one and the deterioration of their own wellbeing.
Rising Dementia Numbers Add Pressure
The crisis comes as dementia prevalence continues to increase. More than 900,000 people are currently living with dementia in the UK, a figure expected to rise significantly in the coming years.
Without additional investment in support infrastructure, charities warn the strain on unpaid carers will intensify.
Call for Urgent Investment
Dementia Carers Count is calling for increased funding for:
- Accessible respite care
- Specialist emotional support services
- Peer support networks
- Practical guidance tailored to dementia care
The charity says unpaid carers form a critical pillar of the UK’s social care system, one that risks collapse if their needs are not urgently addressed.
Campaigners are urging policymakers and care providers to recognise the scale of the challenge and ensure resources reach families before more carers reach crisis point.
