Yorkshire's unpaid carer numbers are set to triple - more support is desperately needed: Chris Donnelly

What’s more, over the last three months online searches for ‘emotional support for carers’ and ‘carers support groups near me’ have surged by 100 per cent; as carers across the region desperately seek support with the demands of caring for a loved one and juggling other commitments such as work and childcare.

More families than ever before are struggling to find high-quality and affordable care for their loved ones and the number of unpaid carers in Yorkshire is expected to triple over the next decade.

As the number of social workers across the region reduces and the population continues to age - if the Government fails to intervene and address the caregiving struggles many families across Yorkshire are experiencing the crisis will only worsen.

Now more than ever Yorkshire’s social care sector is in desperate need of practical, financial, and emotional support. The Government urgently needs to review the amount of funding and services available to support those most vulnerable across Yorkshire and beyond before the country’s care crisis spirals out of control.

With the number of unpaid carers across Yorkshire increasing - many families are experiencing financial worries - especially as we face a cost of living and energy crisis.

The worry many unpaid carers and their loved one’s face is a trend that is expected to continue into the winter months of 2023 and beyond, unless there is help from the Government.

This support includes delivering on the promise of freezing energy bills for homes and businesses across the area and reviewing the support and services available to those struggling to afford everyday essentials.

The UK is facing a caregiving crisis as the number of social care workers rapidly declines.

The Government must focus on boosting the social care workforce - rather than reducing the allocated funding for social care reform. From introducing a social care minimum wage, appropriately funded services and desirable career progression schemes the Government can address the caregiving crisis and stop depending so heavily on the unpaid work of women.

With many remote and isolated communities impacted by the country’s care crisis the government needs to act fast to support an ageing population.

Improving the access and quality of health and social services many older generations and vulnerable adults rely on across the country should be at the top of the agenda.

For example, diverting a greater share of healthcare spending towards social care, improving the ease of access to social care services, and transport links across rural areas.

Chris Donnelly is an Elderly Care Expert and Co-Founder at care home directory service Lottie