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Whoever we are,

We will all one day be a carer or be cared for ourselves

As caring is informal it tends to be unrecorded and as a result it is impossible to determine how many carers there are in the world.
Data from the European Quality of Life Survey indicates the number of caregivers in Europe to be 100 million which is 20% of EU population. If we used 20% to estimate the number of carers in other countries this would mean that there are more than 273 million carers in India alone!

Caring relationships come in a variety of forms and include a mother caring for a child with Cerebral Palsy, a son caring for his elderly father or a wife caring for her husband with Schizophrenia. Typically, when a family member requires care there is a ’primary’ carer who is responsible for most, if not all of the caring responsibilities.

Whilst every carer is unique, they are united by the fact that they work hard every day to care for their loved ones without remuneration for their efforts.
The schedule of carers is often erratic. People with high-support needs may require 24/7 care which means the family carer must always be available to attend to the needs of their loved one. Other carers may have more demanding caring duties when the medical condition of their loved one has ‘flared-up’ but find their caring duties reduced when the condition is under control. As a result, many carers find it difficult to establish a routine in their own lives and constantly have to juggle and manage various responsibilities.

When caring is a full-time responsibility, the opportunity to earn a living is lost for the carer, just as much as it is for the person being cared for which results in households falling further into poverty as a result. In the countries where we work, we have found that there are few social security benefits available for carers. Many carers are not aware of the ones that do exist. Our research across India, Nepal and Bangladesh has found that a staggering 92% of carers worry about not having enough money to meet their family’s basic needs.

As well as missing out on livelihood opportunities, carers often have to curtail their social and leisure activities including forgoing family gatherings and community events. Public spaces that aren’t adapted for people with mobility issues mean it is often challenging for carers to be able to take a relative with disabilities to social activities. The stigma attached to many physical and mental health conditions means it can be safer for carers and those they care for to remain at home instead of going out in public where they could face discrimination and abuse. This isolation partially explains why 89% of carers we have worked with report feelings of anxiety or depression.

Key Numbers

84%
Of carers are women and girls
92%
Of carers worry about money
89%
Of carers suffer from anxiety or depression
48%
Of carers worry about their own health
Carer Statistics

It is not only the health of the person who is being cared for that requires attention. Our research has found that 48% of carers are concerned about their own physical health but they are unable to seek medical treatment due to a lack of time or because of their financial situation. If a carer’s health deteriorates this can negatively impact the quality of care that they provide for their loved one and result in two persons of the same family requiring a carer.

We recognise that caring can adversely affect the economic, social, mental and physical wellbeing of carers.

Here at Carers Worldwide we are committed to transforming the lives of carers and ensuring that their own needs are routinely met.