Unpaid carers asked to share real-life experiences

A survey has found 42% of unpaid carers say they believe their own health has deteriorated because of their duties

Unpaid carers have been asked to share their experiences to improve support as a new study reveals 42% of helpers surveyed have seen their own health worsen due to their responsibilities.

The charity Carers UK, which published the results on Tuesday, also found 52% of carers who responded said the number of hours they spent each week looking after loved ones had risen in the last year.

It comes as Essex County Council has launched a consultation to shape its funding decisions and boost services, based on real-life experiences.

The charity's survey has resonated with one couple, from Billericay, who have found themselves struggling to juggle their work commitments with caring duties.

Unpaid carers say they struggle to juggle work and caring duties

Lacey and Alan (who did not want their surname disclosed) have four children - one of whom has complex needs.

She said it had been difficult to juggle her job as a nurse with caring for her children.

"I've reduced my hours, but it is just not enough - I need to reduce my hours more," Lacey said.

"But financially we are literally in the situation where if I reduce anymore, we are not going to be able to survive and if I don't, as a family, I fear we're going to hit rock bottom."

Her husband Alan, who works in a school, said he had also felt under pressure due to the family's situation.

"I go to work every day in order to provide and to try to be the best husband, dad [and] carer... but every single day I sit down in the evening when I'm on my own and beat myself up because I don't think I'm doing enough," he said.

Emily Holzhausen, from the national charity Carers UK, said about 75% of carers were stressed and anxious about their responsibility to others

Emily Holzhausen, director of policy and public affairs for Carers UK, said it was a situation hundreds of thousands of people across the country would recognise.

The charity found there was a growing number of unpaid carers trying to cope with looking after relatives and friends with a range of conditions, including dementia.

"About 600 people a day have to give up work to care because there's no other alternative and that has a catastrophic impact on people's finances in the short and longer term," said Ms Holzhausen.

"We do see people in worse health and we find three-quarters of carers are very stressed and anxious, even to the point of having panic attacks because of their situation."

'We need to value carers'

The results from the charity's State of Caring Survey 2025 - which 10,500 people answered - also discovered almost half - 49% - of unpaid carers said they had to cut back on essentials such as food, heating, clothing and transport.

Rachel Tungate runs Kool Carers, which helps carers aged between 8 and 18 across Mid and South Essex, and has urged people to take part in the council survey to shape its plans.

"As a society, we need to truly value and support our unpaid carers," she said.

"Essex County Council wants to seek real-life experiences and the hope will be from that they will be able to increase support services [and] raise awareness.

"The key here is it could potentially influence policy and funding decisions in the future."

Unpaid carers across Essex can take part in the All Age Carers Strategy consultation until 4 November 2025.

In a statement, the council said: "We absolutely recognise the importance of improving access to support, recognition and wellbeing support for unpaid carers across Essex."