2 The role of the carer

One of the main determinants of the hours spent caring are the health conditions of those being cared for; over half (58%) have a physical disability, one fifth (20%) have a sensory impairment; 13% have a mental health problem; and 10% have dementia (Carers UK, 2019b). Further analysis of these figures shows that a significant proportion (70%) of the cared-for population are parents/in law or spouses/partners who are over 65 with age-related physical disabilities or chronic physical and mental health conditions. Common age-related problems include sensory impairments, dementia, and/or mobility issues. Other key health issues or conditions that require carer input amongst younger adults are learning disabilities, mental health problems, a terminal illness such as cancer, alcohol or drug dependency, and diabetes (Carers UK, 2019b; Public Health England, 2021).

The Family Resources Survey (Department for Work and Pensions, DWP, 2020), interviewing over 19,000 families, found that family members were the main recipients of informal care, as illustrated in Figure 2. Note also the percentage of carers who are caring from inside and outside of the household.

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Figure _unit2.3.1 Figure 2 Recipients of informal care (DWP, 2020)

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A bar chart titled ‘Who the informal carer is caring for, 2018/19, United Kingdom’.

The x-axis is labelled ‘Percentage of informal carers’ and goes up in increments of 5, starting at 0 and going up to 40. The y-axis includes the different types of informal carers: Parent, Spouse/civil partner/cohabitee, Son/Daughter, Other relative, Non-relative, More than 1 person. A key also separates the informal carers who are caring from inside and outside of the household. Pink represents those caring from inside the household, blue represents those caring from outside the household.

The graph shows the following data:

• Parent (Inside the household): 6%
• Parent (Outside the household): 34%
• Spouse/civil partner/cohabitee (Inside the household): 18%
• Son/Daughter (Inside the household): 14%
• Son/Daughter (Outside the household): 3%
• Other relative (Inside the household): 3%
• Other relative (Outside the household): 8%
• Non-relative (Inside the household): 1%
• Non-relative (Outside the household): 6%
• More than 1 person (Inside the household): 5%
• More than 1 person (Outside the household): 5%

Figure 2 Recipients of informal care (DWP, 2020)

Some of the most common types of care provision offered by carers in England include:

• 82% provide practical help such as preparing meals, doing laundry or shopping.
• 76% keep an eye on the person they care for.
• 68% keep them company.
• 62% take the person they care for out.
• 49% help the person they care for with financial matters.
• 47% help the person they care for deal with care services and benefits.
• 38% help with aspects of personal care.
• 38% provide physical help.

As illustrated in Figure 3, the majority of carers provide up to 19 hours of care per week, but there are over 15% of carers providing care for over 35 hours per week. Census data between 2001 and 2011, identifies the growth in unpaid care was highest in the 50 hours or more of caring (Office of National Statistics, 2013). Furthermore, in 2016-17 data, over a third of carers (35.7%) provided over 100 hours a week of care (Adult Social Care Statistics Team, 2017). A focus on the health and wellbeing of carers needs to be emphasised as caring for even a small amount of time each week can affect a carer’s ability to consider their own health and wellbeing.

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Figure _unit2.3.2 Figure 3 Hours of care provided by adult carers per week, by gender (DWP, 2020)

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A bar chart titled ‘Hours of care provided by adult informal carers per week, by gender, 2018/19 United Kingdom’.

The y-axis is labelled ‘Percentage of informal carers’ and goes up in increments of 10, starting at 0 and going up to 40. The x-axis is labelled with the number of hours of care: 0–4 hours; 5–19 hours; 20–34 hours; Varies, less than 35 hours; 35–49 hours; 50 or more hours; Varies, 35 or more hours. A key also identifies the gender of the carer. Pink represents male carers, blue represents female carers.

The graph shows the following data:

• 0–4 hours (Male): 25%
• 0–4 hours (Female): 21%
• 5–19 hours (Male): 30%
• 5–19 hours (Female): 35%
• 20–34 hours (Male): 7%
• 20–34 hours (Female): 8%
• Varies, less than 35 hours (Male): 5%
• Varies, less than 35 hours (Female): 5%
• 35–49 hours (Male): 6%
• 35–49 hours (Female): 5%
• 50 or more hours (Male): 14%
• 50 or more hours (Female): 14%
• Varies, 35 or more hours (Male): 14%
• Varies, 35 or more hours (Female): 12%

Figure 3 Hours of care provided by adult carers per week, by gender (DWP, 2020)

You will now explore who these carers are.