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Britain faces an epidemic of loneliness among the elderly due to a huge rise in those caring for partners with no help from the state.
Around 3.6 million pensioners are also unpaid carers – a number which has soared by nearly 1.5 million since the start of the pandemic.
Now a survey by Age UK has found that a third of older unpaid carers feel lonely.
The charity is calling on the Government to do more to support pensioners struggling alone.
Many are having to care for their spouse without any help as a result of the broken care system. They would benefit from home help to share the burden, but councils are restricting these visits to those deemed most in need.
The situation has been made worse by Covid restrictions, which have made it harder for care workers to carry out visits.
Around 3.6 million pensioners are also unpaid carers – a number which has soared by nearly 1.5 million since the start of the pandemic (File image)
Age UK’s survey found that the majority of older carers are receiving no support at all, finding support too difficult to access and services unavailable.
With services stopped without explanation or alternatives, they found under 1 per cent are accessing day services, with a similarly tiny number accessing respite care. One unpaid carer told Age UK: ‘It is an intolerable burden. Most days I just want to die.’
Another said: ‘It is draining, isolating and affects my relationship with my spouse. It has been much worse during the pandemic because I haven’t had any social contact with my
