Research has shown that England and Wales are home to 5 million unpaid carers who provide daily care to a family member or friend. The actual figure is suggested to be closer to 20 million, but many people do not recognise that they can be considered unpaid carers.
Specifically, over a third of unpaid carers (38%) take over three years or more to recognise their caring role, whereas not even half (41%) of UK adults can recognise that someone is an unpaid carer.
To help people recognise the signs they are caregivers, stairlift and home lift company Stannah has created the acronym C.A.R.E. to encourage caregivers to seek any financial or emotional support they may need.
C for Cooking
According to experts at Stannah, cooking can be a large part of an unpaid caregiver’s daily care routine. This can take the form of batch-cooking freezer meals that need defrosting and warming in the oven or microwave or cooking meals fresh and delivering them daily. If a loved one has any dietary requirements or medication that needs to be taken at mealtimes, unpaid caregivers may also accommodate this.
A for Appointments
Looking after a loved one can also mean taking them to medical appointments if they cannot independently. For unpaid carers, this can also mean providing transportation, arranging appointments, and ensuring that any necessary paperwork or information is brought to the appointment. In some cases, unpaid carers may take an active role in these appointments by discussing important information their loved one may not have mentioned.
R for Reminders
If caring for a loved one with dementia or another condition with which memory loss is common, unpaid carers may provide regular reminders about daily tasks to help them live more independently. These reminders can vary, from the order to put on clothing and how to reheat a meal to remembering to feed a pet at a particular time of day and turning off the heating if needed.
E for Errands
Running errands for a loved one is commonly featured on an unpaid carer’s to-do list. These can consist of picking up medication, gardening jobs, doing food shopping, cleaning around the house, and washing clothes, to name a few of the errands an unpaid carer may need to carry out to assist a loved one with daily living.
As advocates for supporting unpaid carers, Stannah’s acronym follows research into how much time unpaid carers spend on caregiving duties. According to the most recent Family Resource Survey, one in eight (12%) unpaid carers provides more than 50 hours of care weekly. This is an increase from 10 years ago when statistics revealed one in 12 unpaid carers spent the same amount of time caring. The brand has also created a guide to caregiver burnout to help those affected identify the issue before it takes a toll.
Despite the rewarding nature of caring for a loved one in need, there is a growing financial and emotional crisis among caregivers. In fact, 25% of unpaid carers are cutting back on essentials like food or heating, and 63% are extremely worried about managing their monthly costs in the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
Kate Sheehan, Occupational Therapist at Stannah, says:
“Many people don’t recognise that they are unpaid carers as they simply consider themselves to be giving a helping hand to a loved one in need.
“Providing regular caregiving needs is admirable considering the time needed and the relief it gives the NHS. As well as the label of a caregiver acknowledging their incredible dedication, it also allows people to seek the financial support they need to continue their caregiving at a high standard.
“With the Autumn Budget recently announcing the largest increase to Carer’s Allowance since it was introduced in 1976, carers will be able to receive more than double the current £81.90 per week at 16 hours of the National Living Wage – £195.36. This much-needed financial support will enable carers to give the best support possible to those who need it. It’s progress.
“Unpaid carers relieve pressure on the NHS through their selfless work – but the ramifications on THEIR physical and mental wellness (with caregiver burnout all too prevalent) risks undoing some of this.
“The progress in protecting their financial health is highly encouraging. It marks a positive trajectory, and we hope it continues so that more can be done to protect those currently caring. Now is the time to focus on our carers’ physical and mental health.”
