Who is caring for the carers?

Unpaid carers have revealed what they wish they’d known beforehand – including how to get financial support, keeping energy levels up, and dealing with the emotional toll.

Their advice learns how to multitask, take time for yourself, and manage someone else’s household energy bills.

Nine out of ten (89 per cent) carers polled were not prepared for time and effort they would have to spend caring for a loved one and it took them an average of six months to incorporate caring into their lives.

More than half (58%) say they believe it is ‘very important’ for unpaid carers to be open and talk to one another to share advice, but only half (50%) said they’d received advice from another carer.

Celebrities and real-life unpaid carers have come together with Smart Energy GB and Carers UK to share their experiences in a moving new video which aims to help others manage the load.

Paralympian and presenter Ade Adepitan, multi-platinum selling music producer Naughty Boy and TV personality Malin Andersson have revealed the things they wish they’d known before caring for a family member.

Aston spoke to Madeleine Starr, director of business development and innovation at Carers UK and Philippa Brown, director of special audiences at Smart Energy GB.

Photo by Colin Watts on Unsplash