Over 3 million Australians, or one in 10 people provide unpaid care. Unpaid carers provide vital support to Australia’s ageing population, providing $78 billion worth of care annually. However, unpaid care can come with significant consequences for the carer.
So, is Australia over-reliant on unpaid care, and what can be done about it?
What are the impacts of unpaid care?
Unpaid care can significantly impact the lives of those providing the care in several ways. These include:
• Time commitment: For many people, the time commitment associated with unpaid care is significant. More than half of unpaid carers report working more than 60 hours weekly. This can affect their work-life balance and affect their ability to undertake hobbies and interests
• Reduced employment: The extensive time devoted to caring for loved ones means many carers’ ability to partake in paid employment is reduced. One in two carers reports experiencing financial difficulties.This issue is exacerbated by the fact that 72% of carers are female, with women already working less hours on average than men.
• Poor mental health: Unpaid carers also report negative impacts on their mental health, with many saying they do not receive adequate levels of support. Many unpaid carers also reported high levels of anxiety and depression, as well as strain on their personal relationships. Burnout is common among unpaid carers, with 94% saying they regularly experience mental and physical exhaustion. 92% said they regularly neglect their own needs while 60% said they suffer from social isolation.
What’s behind this?
Several factors have led to Australia’s reliance on unpaid carers. These include:
• Shortage of aged care places: Many aged care facilities are understaffed and under-resourced. It is estimated that an extra 30,000 to 35,000 workers are required each year to meet Australia’s current needs, with this figure expected to only increase. As a result, many aged care facilities have a waiting list. This means those requiring care must be cared for by family members in the meantime.
• Lack of home care packages: Home care packages can provide invaluable support for the vast majority of older Australians who prefer to receive care at home. In recent years, the number of people waiting for a home care package has increased from 28,000 to 68,000 in the last year. This increases the burden on families caring for loved ones.
What can be done to address this?
Several things can be done to reduce reliance on unpaid care. These include:
• Address staffing issues: It’s clear we need to encourage more people to work in the aged care industry. This will help alleviate staffing shortages, enabling the aged care system to provide support to more people. One way of achieving this is by improving pay and conditions.
• Improve access to home care: Reducing the waiting list for home care packages will help to reduce the burden on unpaid carers.
• Improve access to respite care: Respite care services provide an opportunity for unpaid carers to have a break. However, research indicates that only a small fraction of unpaid carers use respite services. Currently, respite care can be difficult to access, with strict eligibility requirements. Improving access to respite care will help reduce the burden of unpaid care on family members.
• Increased financial support: The government should provide additional financial support to unpaid carers.
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Article References
Inside Ageing (8 February 2024) ‘Unpaid caregiving in Australia: Understanding the burden’, Inside Ageing, accessed 10 December 2024.
Stefanie Schultz (10 December 2024) ‘Both paid and unpaid carers sacrifice their own wellbeing, data shows’, Aged Care Insite, accessed 10 December 2024.
Australian Government Department Of Health & Aged Care (6 December 2024) ‘National Dementia Action Plan 2024-2034’, Australian Government Department Of Health & Aged Care, accessed 10 December 2024.