The annual survey, which gathered responses from over 10,500 unpaid carers, paints a stark picture of worsening health, financial strain and job insecurity among the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid carers, who already provide care worth an estimated £184.3 billion a year.
Over 52% said the number of hours they spend caring each week has increased in the past year, while 42% said their physical health had deteriorated. One in five reported injuries from caring duties, and 74% described feeling stressed or anxious, with some experiencing panic attacks or sleep deprivation.
The rising cost of living has deepened the hardship. Nearly half (49%) of unpaid carers said they had cut back on essentials such as food and heating, while 32% had resorted to credit cards, loans or overdrafts to make ends meet.
Employment has also been severely affected: 61% of working carers said their caring responsibilities had shaped their job choices, with 35% reducing their hours and 21% taking lower-paid roles. Every day, around 600 people in the UK leave work to provide unpaid care, costing the economy £37 billion annually, according to Department for Work and Pensions figures.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said the findings revealed a “worrying number” of people pushed to breaking point.
“Many are under considerable stress living a life defined by their caring responsibilities,” she said. “We need to start valuing their contribution, because when carers leave the workplace or experience burnout, it has wider consequences for workplaces and health services.”
Walker urged the Government to prioritise carers within ongoing NHS and social care reforms, warning that without concrete action, the “devastating consequences” for individuals and society would only grow.
