Next week the 9th to the 15th of June is the annual Carers,Week. This year the focus is all about ‘recognising our carers’ and a plea to acknowledge the invaluable contributions of unpaid carers.

Right across Scotland today, in tens of thousands of homes, a silent workforce labours tirelessly – these unpaid carers are the backbone of our health and social care system. They are the daughters, sons, spouses, neighbours, and friends who, without fanfare, provide essential care to loved ones. If the contribution of paid carers to Scottish society is massive and unrecognised, that of our unpaid carers is monumental and unsupported.

Recent data underscores the scale of unpaid care in Scotland. The 2022 Census recorded over 627,700 unpaid carers- a 27.5% increase since 2011. Their collective efforts are valued at approximately £15.9 billion annually.

These women, men, young people and children provide indispensable support, often stepping in where formal services fall short. Sadly, this is even more the case as savage cuts are resulting in the loss of so many formal lifeline social care services. Carers in their roles encompass a wide range of responsibilities, from personal care to managing complex medical needs. Without them, the formal health and social care systems would face insurmountable challenges and in truth would crumble.

Despite their critical role, unpaid carers face significant pressures. A 2023 survey revealed that over half (52%) of carers reported an increase in their caring responsibilities over the past year, with 75% unable to take a break when needed. Many feel overwhelmed, with 63% reporting feelings of being constantly overwhelmed due to their caring duties.

The health impacts on many unpaid carers are enormous with chronic stress, sleep deprivation, and isolation often reported. A Public Health Scotland report in 2022 found that unpaid carers are twice as likely to experience long-term health conditions as non-carers.

Financial strain is another pressing issue. Unpaid carers are 56% more likely to experience poverty and 60% more likely to be in deep poverty compared to those without caring responsibilities. This economic hardship often forces carers to reduce working hours or leave employment altogether, exacerbating their financial vulnerability.

The challenges faced by unpaid carers have broader implications for the social care system. As carers become overwhelmed and unsupported, the risk of care breakdown increases, leading to greater demand on formal services and at a time when demand is already soaring and the capacity to respond is diminished. This not only strains resources but also impacts the quality and continuity of care for those in need.

Moreover, the reliance on unpaid carers masks the true demand for formal care services, leading to underinvestment and inadequate policy responses. Recognising and supporting unpaid carers is therefore not just a moral imperative but also an urgent necessity for a sustainable social care system.

To address these challenges, a multifaceted approach is required and much greater political priority: I would argue that this would include amongst other things, that the Carer’s Allowance Supplement needs significant investment and increase, even with a recognition of the summer payment this past week. In addition, that respite should be seen as a fundamental right and such guaranteed breaks must be enforceable, not a postcode lottery. We also need to do much more in terms of workplace protections so that carers are not forced out of jobs, especially older carers.

And lastly, I have lost count of the tables I’ve sat at and rooms I have been in which have been critical to social care provision and the voice of unpaid carers is absent. Unpaid carers and their representative organisations require formal recognition as being integral partners in the health and social care system, involving them in decision-making processes.

By implementing these measures, we can slowly begin to alleviate the pressures on unpaid carers and build a more resilient and compassionate social care system.

To close, I leave you with a poem which reflects on the fragility and impact of unpaid care:

I’m holding it together

 

I’m holding it together – just.

The fragments of those days when

you made all the decisions, and I

was pleased just to follow

are there, fragile but still.

I’m holding it all together – I think.

The tears inside swelling to leave

when I watch you fracture every moment,

knowing I cannot come with you

into that place beyond hope.

I’m holding it all together – in pain.

As my body aches with the routines of

morning, noon and the light on night

with pills, cups of tea and soundless TV,

when nothing but emptiness sits between us.

I’m holding it all together – just.

No-one knocks the door or calls anymore.

Because I’m coping with the care

they can rest assured and at ease, that

I’m holding it all together.

Donald Macaskill

Last Updated on 9th June 2025 by donald.macaskill