Health & Wellbeing
Carers in Your Workforce
Caring for a loved one can happen to anyone at any stage of life. Right now, it is estimated there are approximately 10.6 million unpaid carers in the UK. (Carers Week Report June 2023) Carers save the NHS as much money as it takes to run it. Imagine that. The status of unpaid carer needs to be given the recognition it warrants. Since 2020, there has been a 45% increase in unpaid carers providing significant care of more than 20 hours per week. These people work tirelessly with little or no recognition and support. Our charity, Greenwich Carers Centre are here for the estimated 45,000 unpaid carers within the borough of Greenwich who support family, friends or loved ones. For 25 years, Greenwich Carers Centre has offered practical, emotional and peer support to unpaid carers across the Royal borough of Greenwich. Soon, the charity will commence working with employers in the borough to raise awareness of working carers and support business to help make their lives a little bit easier. Despite longer hours and unpaid care duties going above and beyond that of a professional carer, many people simply do not recognize themselves as carers. In fact, across the UK,
a staggering 73% of people providing care do not see themselves as carers. To them, it is just something they take on, because someone they love needs them. Rather surprisingly, one in three of us will become a carer at some point in our life. It may be due to accident, illness or someone being born with a condition that requires care… whatever the reason, it happens to a lot of us, sometimes with very little notice. People that do not recognise themselves as carers often miss out on much-needed practical, emotional, and indeed financial support. In fact, juggling the commitments of caring with work, family, health and home is a very real challenge. Many carers reach breaking point as they become ‘ground down’ by relentless care responsibilities. They become isolated and emotionally and mentally exhausted. It doesn’t happen quickly, but helping carers to avoid reaching crisis point is very much what charities like Greenwich Cares Centre do. In the UK, 4.87 million unpaid carers are worried about the impact of caring on their physical and mental health.
Carers are within our workforces. They may not talk about being a carer, but if they look after, or support, a friend, family member or partner then they are one - and they may need our help. In fact, work may be the one escape they have from the hardships they are facing. Conflicting demands are a real problem for working carers. Being flexible as an employer really helps. Sometimes working carers need to be at hospitals, GP surgeries or even housing offices during working hours. They use holiday and sick days to provide the care they need to provide and when that runs out, they may risk losing their job by taking time off. It doesn’t need to be this way. Let's all look out for working carers because they aren’t a ‘them,’ they are an us.
Greenwich Carers Centre
If you know of someone who may benefit from our support, please signpost them to visit:
www.greenwichcarers.org for more information
Expert dementia care Guided by the latest academic evidence, our dementia specialists support each resident to live every day to the full. If you’re considering a care home, call 020 3918 9699 or visit careuk.com/smyth-lodge
Trusted to care Smyth Lodge care home Sidcup 46
