Growing Numbers of Over 60s Are Caring for Ageing Relatives

Older retired people are increasingly facing the responsibility of caring for their elderly family members. Indeed, figures from Carers UK and University of Leeds academics show that the numbers of older carers have reached nearly 1.2 million and continues to rise.

As elderly people are increasingly living into their 80s and 90s their over 60s carers are missing out on their own golden years.

Accounting for almost 20 per cent of family carers, they are also the fastest growing group. There are almost 6.4 million older caregivers looking after elderly family members.

The surge in older carers coincides with the recent drastic cuts in home help services, a vital lifeline for these older people. The cuts include personal care for elderly people and extra charges are to be imposed for home help and meals on wheels, making life even harder for the carers. The results of the research will highlight difficulties older carers face with the approach of National Carers' Week starting Monday 13 June.

It is difficult for all middle aged people whose parents are living to a ripe old age. Even those who don't do the caring themselves often find that they have to subsidise care home costs.

Retired teacher Margaret Tucker spends nearly £4000 a year subsidising her 97-year-old mother's care home costs. Mrs Tucker suggested that older people in her situation could be given tax breaks similar to parents.

Mrs Tucker also pointed out that the money she spends on her mother could otherwise be put away for her own old age. As her mother had limited savings and was on benefits she said the local authority should pay the full amount.

Imelda Redmond chief executive of Carers UK said: "There is a new generation of older people forgoing their plans for retirement to take on caring for even older loved ones. Many face isolation, ill-health and a struggle to make ends meet."

Ms Redmond added: "With 11 million people alive today in the UK expected to live to 100, looking after our parents as they get older has become a fact of life for most families. It is time society recognised this contribution and gave families the support they need."

Spokesman for older people and Liberal Democrat MP Jenny Willott said that funding social care was now a matter of priority.

Carers, she said, are not getting the recognition they deserve. The pressures of caring for an older relative are so much more intense for the over 65s.

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