More than 1/3 of unpaid carers in Wales say they're cutting back on essentials
76% say they feel stressed or anxious when they think about their finances.
A new report by charity, Carers Wales, has revealed that unpaid carers in Wales are under huge financial pressure and are forced to cut back on essentials, such as heating and food.
• More than 1 in 3 unpaid carers (34%) are cutting back on essentials like food and heating, up from 32% in 2022.
• 64% of carers are worried about living costs and whether they can manage in the future, and over a third (42%) do not feel confident that they will be able to manage financially over the next 12 months.
• 2 in 3 carers say that their financial situation is having a negative impact on their mental health and wellbeing, and 76% feel stressed or anxious when they think about their financial situation.
Currently, over 310,000 unpaid carers in Wales provide care for ill, elderly, or disabled family members, often covering additional costs for transport, home heating, and medical equipment.
Rob Simkins, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at Carers Wales, said:
“This report should be shocking, but unfortunately it’s a story that unpaid carers and people supporting them know all too well."
"It should serve as an embarrassment...
that we take for granted that more than 1 in 10 people in Wales are providing unpaid care to a loved one and are just left to skip meals, use food banks and accrue debt so they can keep the lights and heating on."
Carers Wales estimates that replacing the care provided by unpaid carers would cost over £10 billion annually.
Their report also reveals that approximately 100,000 unpaid carers in Wales live in poverty, with a poverty rate 30% higher than for non-carers, and a deep poverty rate 50% higher than the general population.