Disability charity finds carers feel exhausted, sleep-deprived and lonely

On eve of Festive Season disability charity finds carers feel exhausted, sleep-deprived and lonely

A new study by local disability charity Revitalise, has revealed that many carers have far less reason to be jolly this Christmas.

The charity’s research found that 4 out of 10 (37%) of the UK’s carers will be lonely, over a quarter of whom (30%) were aged 70 or over.

At a time when most people are looking forward to relaxing with family and friends, the Revitalise study found that six out of 10 (60%) of carers feel unable to ‘switch off’ from their caring role, with more than two thirds saying they are always tired (69%), feel mentally exhausted (63%) and over half (61%) admitting they have trouble sleeping.

More than half of carers (52%) did not know how they would be able to cope if things continued the way they were.

Four out of 10 (40%) also expressed concerns that they would end up ill, in chronic pain or disabled themselves - more than five out of 10 (55%) of carers had been caring for 10 years or more and 45% had sustained injuries or chronic health conditions as a direct result of caring, the survey revealed.

In light of the study’s findings, Revitalise is calling for more funding from central government to enable Local Authorities to give unpaid carers all the support they need and is renewing its call for sufficient funding for respite breaks to be a fundamental element of all social care provision.