Carers wellbeing must be a priority

Future Care Capital is supporting the annual campaign to raise awareness of the challenges faced everyday by unpaid carers. Carers Week also provides an opportunity to recognise the valuable contribution carers make to society.

This year’s theme focuses on carers staying Healthy and Connected. There are approximately 6.5 million carers in the UK.

All too often, the strain of being a carer can impact on a person’s health and wellbeing – according to the Carers Week organisers, 51% of carers let their own health issues go untreated.

Carers UK has found that the physical demands and stress of caring have led to 625,000 carers experiencing mental and physical ill health. National figures assessing the amount of time an individual is providing care point to a major policy dilemma which must be addressed. 1.3 million people provide over 50 hours of care per week. The government recently published an action plan for carers and signalled that their needs will be at the heart of the new social care strategy.

Only by recognising carers’ contribution can communities put in place the right support for their health and wellbeing needs.