Carers UK - unpaid carers in England and Wales providing care worth £162 billion a year
Using data from Census 2021 and the '2021 hourly cost of replacement home care' , this research estimates that the unpaid care provided by people across England and Wales would amount to £162 billion a year.
The report does also recognise that estimates cannot put a true value on the costs of unpaid care:
In many ways, unpaid care is priceless and difficult to quantify. Unpaid care is often an expression of unconditional love, and immense respect for the person supported. It is, however, vital to raise awareness of the importance of unpaid carers in society.
KEY FINDINGS
-
The economic value of contributions by carers has increased 29% in real terms since 2011
-
This is equivalent to a second NHS in both countries, which receive funding of around £164 billion every year.
-
This is largely driven by a rise in the number of hours provided by unpaid carers since 2011
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“It is deeply concerning that the increase in the value of unpaid care over the last decade is a result of fewer carers providing more hours of care. The ever-declining availability of social care means there is shrinking support for families to pull on – and they are left without a choice but to put other areas of their life on hold and provide more care.
“Having to care round the clock for a loved one has significant implications for people’s ability to stay in paid work, remain financially resilient and maintain their health. Lacking adequate support, unpaid carers feel they are being taken for granted.
“The Government must show that it values and supports unpaid carers by investing in and delivering quality care services for families in the longer-term. Carers need a funded National Carers Strategy and recognition within the NHS. For hundreds of thousands of carers on low incomes, they are desperate to see their financial support urgently reviewed.”
Leading the research, Professor Matt Bennett, Deputy Director of the Centre for Care at the University of Sheffield said:
"The economic contribution made by unpaid carers has increased by 29% in the last decade and paints a stark picture of the savings they make to health care budgets. Without unpaid carers, our health and social care systems would collapse.
“In fact, our work shows that people are providing more hours of unpaid care than ever before. We hope policy makers see the urgent need to act to support unpaid carers.”
