Carers need access to their own medical appointments, too. Their wellbeing directly affects their ability to provide care — yet balancing personal healthcare needs with caregiving responsibilities can be a real challenge when there's no one available to step in.
Research consistently shows that caregiving takes a toll on physical and psychological health. According to Carers Week data, 6 out of 10 carers (61%) said their physical health had worsened, and 7 out of 10 (72%) said they had experienced mental ill health, as a result of caring.
There are several reasons for this. Many carers are themselves older adults with existing health conditions, and the physical and emotional demands of caring can make these worse. Financial pressure often prevents carers from keeping up wellness activities they'd previously relied on, or buying nutritious food. Most of all, caring responsibilities frequently take up all available time, leaving no room for personal medical appointments.
Carers often put off their own health concerns while making sure the person they care for gets the treatment they need. This delay can mean conditions get much worse before medical help is sought — some carers have even postponed essential surgery because no one they trusted could provide temporary cover.
Kent offers replacement care services to address exactly this, jointly funded by Kent County Council and the Integrated Care Board. Funding levels remain modest, but the impact on the people who use it is transformative — enabling access to medical care and helping prevent carers' health from deteriorating further.
As funding reviews continue, Crossroads Care Kent is advocating to maintain support for this service — because keeping carers healthy is essential to sustainable caring.