STATE OF CARING REPORT 2016
I sometimes skip meals so other
family members eat.
As a result of financial strain many carers are being
forced to make impossible decisions about spending to
get by. Of those struggling to make ends meet, nearly
half (48%) are cutting back on essentials like food and
heating and 1 in 6 (16%) are falling into arrears with
housing and utility bills. Others are borrowing money on
credit cards (35%), taking out loans (13%) or borrowing
from friends or family (30%).
Caring for someone and looking
after our baby is a massive physical
and emotional drain. Adding to this
the stress of becoming increasingly
in debt and the knowledge that
continuing along this path will end in
eviction and the inability to pay bills,
eat and heat the property causes
stress for me and directly impacts on
my partner’s health and wellbeing.
Over a third (37%) of carers struggling to make ends
meet are using up savings to get by suggesting that
their ability to manage is unlikely to be sustainable in
the longer term.
Financial hardship is putting further pressure on carers’
ability to get practical and emotional support with their
caring role as 13% of those struggling financially are
cutting back on practical support with caring and nearly
two thirds (64%) are cutting back on seeing friends
and families, increasing the isolation that many carers
experience.
Worry about finances has a knock on impact on carers’
own health too. Across all carers, whether they are
currently struggling financially or not, the numbers who
report a level of worry about finances that affects their
own health is high at 43%. Three quarters (73%) of
those struggling to make ends meet report that worry
about their finances is affecting their health.
I am constantly on edge waiting for
‘that’ phone call or ‘that’ letter in the
post or the debit card declined at the
supermarket checkout.
It is a constant worry that adds to the
stress and anxiety that I already have
as a carer. It also means that when
I do have ‘time off’ my partner and I
can’t afford to ‘make the most of it’.
We haven’t had a holiday away from
home since I started caring and even
a weekend visit to my in-laws has to
be carefully planned and saved for.
Three quarters
73%
of carers who are struggling to
make ends meet say worrying
about their finances is affecting
their health.
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