Carers strategy

Graphic showing that 13% of carers in Bolton care for a parent or grandparent, 37% care for a child, 21% care for a partner and 29% did not specify their relationship to the person they care for

Bolton's key findings

  • 40% of carers feel isolated in their role
  • Many carers want help in accessing all the benefits they are entitled to, and don’t know who to ask
  • Three in five carers felt they couldn’t access the information they needed and didn’t know where to look.
  • 12% can not access the internet. But many would like the opportunity to try, if they could access training
  • Although only 1 in 8 specifically stated that they struggled to get help out of hours, several others also stated that their only option was to dial 999 which was not effective in a mental health crisis or where physical help was needed.

A picture showing an older woman saying "Gave up asking for support a long time ago, It's easier to just manage on my own", "No-one asks how I am only asking the cared for person how they are", "I'm 60 now and been a carer for over 10 years and feel my life is over"

Please note: We summarised the views of several responses. Council engagement sessions/other: 26 responses (including an estimated five, which were included with other responses), Bolton Carers Support: 13 responses, Bolton Parent Carers: 15 responses.

*Data collected between March and September 2022. *Healthwatch Bolton and BLGC high level quotes.