Caring
Unseen

62% of unpaid carers reported feeling stressed, 50% higher than the general public in the same period. Carers were more than twice as likely to feel lonely, while the public were 50% more likely to feel happy. All 12 tracked emotions show carers skewing heavily negative versus the wider population.

Carers' overall stress was strikingly uniform across England: the South East recorded the national high at 67%, with every other region within three or four points. Regions diverged more on unmet personal needs, where the North East (60%) and East of England (56%) had the highest shares of carers able to meet their loved ones' needs but not their own, against 49% in the South East and South West.

Nearly half (48%) of carers said they could meet their loved ones' health and wellbeing needs, but not their own. Just 27% felt able to meet both. 17% could meet neither, and 8% their own but not their loved ones'. More than half of all unpaid carers felt unable to meet their own needs.

Younger carers were most likely to sacrifice their own needs. 55% of 25–34-year-olds and 53% of 18–24-year-olds said they could meet loved ones' needs but not their own, falling to 35% among over-65s. The burden of selflessness falls hardest on carers under 35.

56% of unpaid carers believed the government was supporting them 'ineffectively', dominated by 31% who chose 'very ineffectively'. Just 6% said the government was supporting carers 'very effectively', and fewer than a quarter (23%) rated support as effective at all.

65% of carers said they would be 'likely' to change their vote for a party that introduced further support measures, 21% 'very likely' and 44% 'somewhat likely'. Fewer than 10% said they would be unlikely to change. This is a powerful electoral signal.

Labour leads carer political alignment at 41%, more than three times the Conservative Party's 11%. Despite detailed care proposals, the Lib Dems polled at just 6%, while Reform UK and the Greens each received 4%.

Dissatisfaction with government support is near-universal across all English regions. The East Midlands is most critical (68% saying ineffective), followed closely by the South East and Yorkshire & Humber (64% each). London shows the lowest dissatisfaction, though still at 32%.

Labour's lead narrows with age. Among 18–24s, Labour leads 50% to 12% (Conservative). By 65+, Labour still leads at 35%, but Conservative support peaks at 20% and Reform UK enters the picture at 14%, overtaking the Lib Dems as the third-largest choice for older carers.

The East of England and London lead awareness of the Carer's Leave Act 2023 at 42% and 41% respectively, yet even there, awareness roughly mirrors unawareness. The South East lags furthest, with just 25% aware and over 60% unaware. Both Midlands regions show only 30% awareness.

Awareness of the Carer's Leave Act 2023 falls sharply with age, 47% among 18–24 year olds versus only 12% among over-65s. Unawareness rises in a linear pattern from 33% in the youngest cohort to 77% in the eldest. A 35-point awareness gap reveals a significant communications failure for older carers.

Awareness of live-in care, its provisions, costs, and benefits, follows a clear age gradient. Three-quarters of 18–34-year-olds described themselves as aware, dropping to 55% of over-65s. Yet even at 55%, a significant minority of older carers remain uninformed about this care option.

Carer's Allowance is understood consistently across all ages (42–54%, in line with GoodOaks' own 40–55% figure). Awareness of PIP and Attendance Allowance actually rises with age — the opposite pattern to every other option — while understanding of NHS Continuing Healthcare and Carer's Credit among under-35s runs at roughly three times the level seen among over-65s.

West Midlands carers were most likely to believe current care provision is sustainable (62%), while East Midlands carers were least optimistic at just 36%. A 26-point spread across English regions reveals how unevenly carers experience the resilience of local care infrastructure.

Optimism falls sharply with age. Two-thirds of 18–24-year-olds believe their care is sustainable, and 51% expect it to improve. By 55–64, just 31% believe care is sustainable and only 9% expect improvement. Interestingly, over-65s buck the trend, outperforming the 55–64 age group on both measures.