Pressures on informal carers

Research led by CPC-CG Co-Director Professor Maria Evandrou and CPC-CG Director Professor Jane Falkingham CBE highlights the growing financial and employment pressures on informal carers in Britain.

The findings from several recent studies by Professor Evandrou and Professor Falkingham with Dr Min Qin and Professor Athina Vlachantoni reveal a widening gap in long-term care preparedness, the incompatibility of social care cuts with extended working lives, and the disproportionate impact on lone parents and women. While the demand for informal caregiving is increasing, many individuals remain unprepared for their future long-term care needs, and policies aimed at promoting workforce participation are clashing with the realities of caregiving responsibilities.

Research on financial planning for future long-term care needs, based on data from the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, has found that many mid-life and older adults underestimate their future care needs and associated costs, with those in lower socio-economic groups particularly likely to lack financial preparedness. Low expectations of needing long-term care were associated with being older, renting a home, and having lower incomes; characteristics that are also linked to an increased likelihood of requiring care. The research suggests that inadequate knowledge of the social care system and financial constraints contribute to insufficient personal planning for care in later life, deepening inequalities in access to support.

At the same time, policies encouraging older adults to remain in employment, such as the UK’s ‘50 PLUS Choices’, are in direct conflict with the rising reliance on informal carers to provide social care. Research using the UK Household Longitudinal Study has found that informal caregiving responsibilities significantly reduce employment participation, particularly for those providing intensive care (20+ hours per week). The findings indicate that older working carers face an increasing struggle to balance employment and care responsibilities, particularly as cuts to public funding for adult social care continue to shift the burden onto families.

One of the most affected groups is lone parents, who are increasingly caught in the "sandwich generation", providing care for both elderly parents and dependent children. Research tracking caregiving patterns over time, using data from the General Household Survey (1990 and 2000) and Understanding Society (2010 and 2020), found that lone parents are significantly more likely to provide intensive care than those in couple households, often at the cost of full-time employment. Changes to welfare policies, including stricter work requirements under Universal Credit, have placed additional financial pressures on lone parents who cannot work due to caregiving demands. These findings raise concerns about the sustainability of policies that tie benefits to employment without providing adequate support for those in dual caregiving roles.

Gender disparities in informal caregiving have also widened over time, particularly in mid-life. Using a sample of adults aged 35-89 living in Great Britain from the General Household Survey (1985-2000), the British Household Panel Survey (2005), and the UK Household Longitudinal Study (2010-2020), a study on gender, cohort, and life stage differences in caregiving has shown that women remain the primary providers of care across all age groups. The gender gap in parental and intensive caregiving has been increasing, with women in mid-life particularly affected, juggling employment, child-rearing, and elder care responsibilities. Additionally, the study team have found that health challenges can exacerbate inequalities for women in mid-life, finding that severe menopausal symptoms are linked to higher rates of reduced working hours or leaving employment, further limiting women's career progression and financial security.

Professor Evandrou who leads the Centre for Research on Ageing at the University of Southampton said: "This research highlights the urgent need for policies that address the financial and employment pressures on informal carers. Policymakers must reconsider benefit structures, improve long-term care financial literacy, and invest in social care infrastructure to ensure individuals can prepare for their future needs without sacrificing economic stability.

"There is also a need for policies which support workplace flexibility, provide financial incentives for carers, and improve access to formal care services to alleviate the burden on informal caregivers. Addressing these challenges is critical for supporting an ageing population and ensuring a fairer, more sustainable caregiving system for all."

Based on the findings of this research, the team recently submitted evidence to the UK Parliament's Health and Social Care Committee Inquiry on 'Adult social care reform: The cost of inaction'. The submission has since been published and is available to read online.

Further reading

Personal planning for future long-term care among mid-age and old adults in England: The role of expectations (CPC-CG Working Paper 110)

Delivering ‘50 PLUS Choices’ in the UK: how compatible are ‘fuller working lives’ with an increasing reliance on informal carers to deliver social care? (Journal of Social Policy)

Lone parents: The invisible “Sandwich Generation” (CPC-CG Working Paper 79)

Social care provision in Great Britain: Exploring gender, cohort, and life stage differences (CPC-CG Policy Briefing 78)

Menopausal transition and change in employment: Evidence from the National Child Development Study (Maturitas)

Menopause and money: Why financial planning is important (Brewin Dolphin)

Measuring unmet need for social care among older persons (University of Southampton Research Highlights)

Old age pension or old age poverty - addressing inequalities in the pension system (Re:action Magazine)

Written evidence on adult social care reform: The cost of inaction (Health and Social Care Committee Written Evidence)

Posted 03/02/2025 10:52