Elderly people with care responsibilities ‘rapidly increasing in number’

A new report has demonstrated a pronounced recent increase in the number of older people who are struggling with the responsibility of having to care for a loved one.

The analysis from Carers UK and Age UK reveals that the number of carers aged 85 and over in England has risen by a staggering 128 percent in ten years to more than 87,000, with 55 percent of these having to provide care for 50 or more hours per week.

It is predicted that there will be more than 200,000 carers in this age group by 2030. Despite this, the number of carers aged 75 and over being offered services to help them cope after an assessment of their needs has fallen by nine percent since 2006/7.

Given that 48 percent of carers aged 85 and over who are providing 20 or more hours of care a week say they feel anxious or depressed, this is an issue that requires action to correct at an early opportunity.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director of Age UK, said: "Our ageing population presents a challenge for government, social care services and the NHS to meet the increasing demand for care, but also support the rapidly expanding numbers of older people who are themselves providing care."