Millions of unpaid UK carers living in agony', says Louise Casey

"Millions of unpaid carers in the UK are living an agony while propping up an outdated, fragmented and confusing social care system, Louise Casey, the head of the government's adult social care commission, has said. Lady Casey, who is leading an independent review of adult social care, criticised a system that still behaves as if we are living in 1948 and not 2026 by relying on female carers to plug gaps in services. She said it was no longer sustainable to depend on predominantly female unpaid carers and poorly paid care workers to hold the system together until they hit crisis point."

"Speaking at a Carers UK conference in London on Thursday, Casey said caring placed an enormous emotional burden on unpaid carers, who were primarily women expected to absorb risk, stress and responsibility so the system doesn't have to This can't go on any longer, she said. Casey was commissioned by the government in January 2025 to lead a two-stage review of adult social care aimed at delivering Labour's manifesto commitment to create a national care service. The first report is expected this year."

"She has previously warned that the adult social care system faces a moment of reckoning as it struggles to meet the needs of an ageing population and rising numbers of people living with chronic conditions such as dementia. Carers were given no reassurance or continuity, with little clarity about the level of support on offer, how to access it, who provides it or pays for it, she said. The system made things far harder than it needs to be."

"We end up in a position where elderly parents in their 70s are still carrying their 40-year-old disabled son upstairs to bed every night, worried that if they ask for help the consequences of asking for that help will"

Millions of unpaid carers in the UK face severe hardship while supporting an outdated, fragmented, and confusing social care system. The system relies on predominantly female unpaid carers and poorly paid care workers to fill gaps until crisis occurs. Caring creates an enormous emotional burden, with women expected to absorb risk, stress, and responsibility so the system does not fail. The government commissioned an independent review of adult social care in January 2025 to deliver a national care service, with an initial report expected this year. The system is struggling with an ageing population and rising chronic conditions such as dementia. Carers receive little clarity about support levels, access, providers, or funding, making it harder to get help. Elderly parents may continue physically supporting disabled adult children while fearing consequences of requesting assistance.

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