
We Care You Care welcome the recent article in the Independent that highlights the critical issues facing the care system with the number of people aged over 85 set to double over the next two decades.
Ramzi Suleiman, policy and public affairs manager at the Carers Trust is quoted as saying: “The social care sector is nowhere near ready for this rise in older people. It’s already creaking at the seams and there is huge unmet need, with less than half of older people with care needs getting the help they should. Meanwhile, unpaid carers are having to fill the gaps by looking after family and friends at home.
“This is just further evidence that action is needed right now to fix the social care crisis. We can’t wait another 10 years. And it’s not just social care that isn’t ready. This demographic shift will require millions more of us to provide care. Without changes to the world of work and extra support, many of those carers will be forced to leave their jobs, at huge costs to themselves and the wider economy.”
Data from the Understanding Society study on sandwich carers in the UK, conducted from January 2021 to May 2023 and published on the Office for National Statistics website, found that around half (53%) of sandwich carers reported being unable to work at all or as much as they would like due to their caregiving responsibilities for someone they live with. This figure increased to around three-quarters (74%) for those providing 20 or more hours of care per week.
The study also highlighted a worrying trend, with around 3 in 10 (31%) sandwich carers showing signs of depression or anxiety (General Health Questionnaire-12 score of 4 or more), compared to 24% of all adults. Additionally, around a fifth (19%) of sandwich carers reported being diagnosed with depression, compared to 13% of all adults.
In our region of Middlesbrough and Redcar & Cleveland alone, there are an estimated 30,000 unpaid carers - a proportion of whom are ‘sandwich carers’. These figures are likely an underrepresentation as we know from experience that people often don’t recognise themselves as a carer because it’s just something that is expected of them as they’re caring for a family member and often juggling it around work and family life.
“We know the ageing population is extending unpaid care and forcing many carers to become 'sandwich carers' which essentially means they have caring responsibilities for dependent children and ageing parents”, explains Kelly Hodgson, Project Lead at We Care you Care. “We welcome these conversations as we hear first-hand the impact looking after family members and friends can have. Maintaining employment whilst juggling unpaid care is already a significant challenge for many carers. Work is not only an income for people but also forms part of somebody’s identify and social connections. If we don't act now and make services, systems and cultures that work for carers we will see more and more carers in crisis.”
The call for urgent support and reform is clear: the social care system, along with workplace structures and societal attitudes, must evolve to meet the needs of this growing demographic of unpaid carers. Without immediate action, we risk a future where more carers face burnout, financial hardship, and health struggles.
If you are an unpaid carer living in South Tees please have a look at the resources available on our website and sign up to our fortnightly ebulletin where we share the latest news and information about local support and activities aimed at supporting carers.