Elderly carers need more support to manage their own health, warns charity

Elderly carers are not getting enough support to manage their own health needs, a charity has warned.

Many older carers are forgoing their own health in order to care for a loved one, Carers Trust said.

This could lead to a “bleak future all around” as older carers’ illnesses prevent them from looking after their loved ones, the charity said.

It has called for more support for older carers including more flexible health appointments that fit in with the availability of replacement care.

A poll of 400 UK carers over 65 found that 86% were suffering health problems of their own.

Half provided round-the-clock care and 57% said they had cancelled or postponed their own doctors’ or hospital appointments because of their caring role.

“We have a generation of older people over the age of 65 who are carrying out one of the toughest roles there is – caring 24/7 for their husbands, wives and adult children,” said Carers Trust chief executive Gail Scott-Spicer.

“Some are sick or disabled themselves. There simply isn’t enough support for them so the least we can do is help them to look after their own health.

“If they become seriously ill too, the person they care for will go downhill which means a bleak future all round.”

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