"The idea is ludicrous of course. And yet that's exactly what is happening to the almost 6 million people in the UK who are unpaid carers for sick, disabled and older relatives."
"As need has grown and reform and resources have stalled, 1.9 million people in England alone provided a full-time week of care in 2023-24—that's 70% more than 20 years ago."
"Nessa will be 60 this year, but, as one of the UK's ghost workforce, instead of planning her retirement, she's worrying who will care for her son."
"While many of us enjoyed time off, she was doing her usual 24/7 shift: helping Jai move around, administering medicines and changing dressings on his bleeding ulcers."
The UK faces a growing reliance on unpaid carers, with 1.9 million individuals providing full-time care in 2023-24, a 70% increase over 20 years. Many unpaid carers juggle responsibilities alongside jobs, forming a 'ghost workforce' of caregivers. Nessa, a carer for her son Jai, exemplifies this struggle, managing 24/7 care without support after local authority funding was cut. The normalization of family members stepping in to provide care highlights the urgent need for reform in the social care system as demand continues to rise.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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