Health and wellbeing
This Carers Week, as part of our wider Caring About Equality theme, we will be highlighting the need to tackle the health inequalities that unpaid carers experience.
Across the UK, millions of people care for their loved ones, propping up the UK’s broken health and social care systems. Despite this, far too often, carers’ own health and wellbeing is put at risk because of the care they provide.
Unpaid carers are more likely to report being in poor health than people without caring responsibilities. In England, one in four carers said they were in "not good" health, rising to one in three among those caring for 50 or more hours a week — compared to fewer than one in five non-carers (1). Carers are also more likely to have a disability, with 28% of carers in England and Wales disabled compared to 18% of those without caring responsibilities. (2)
Caring can negatively impact carers’ own wellbeing, with many carers struggling to take a break, feeling isolated and overwhelmed. 57% of carers report feeling overwhelmed often or always and an increasing number of carers have poor mental health (3). Carers UK research found that 42% of carers said they needed more support from the NHS or healthcare professionals. (4)
Carers can also often find it hard to find time to spend with their friends and family, with one in two carers experiencing loneliness (5).
More action is needed to improve carers’ health and wellbeing and to address the significant inequalities they face across the UK.
Get involved
- Support Carers Week 2025 and join the call for greater equality for carers.
- Read our information for carers, including where to find support for your health and wellbeing
- Check out our information and tips for commissioners, health and social care services.
References
1 ONS (2024) 'Unpaid care expectancy and health outcomes of unpaid carers, England: April 2024'.
2 ONS (2023) Unpaid care, England and Wales: Census 2021.
3 Carers UK (2025) State of Caring - The impact of caring on carers’ metal health and the need for support from social care services.
4 Carers UK (2023) State of Caring - The impact of caring on: health.
5 ibid.
