Carers Week 2025: Recognising the Hidden Struggles of Unpaid Carers
As part of our countdown to Carers Week, today we’re turning the spotlight onto the hidden struggles unpaid carers face — often quietly, behind closed doors.
At Caremark Barking, Dagenham and Newham, we believe in bringing these challenges to light so carers in our community feel seen, supported, and valued.
💡 Who Are the Hidden Carers?
Many people don’t realise they’re carers. They may see themselves as simply “helping out” a parent, partner, sibling, or friend. But if you’re offering unpaid support to someone with an illness, disability, addiction or age-related need — you are a carer.
These hidden carers often:
- Do not seek support early,
- Struggle in silence with burnout or fatigue,
- Miss out on benefits, assessments, or breaks they are entitled to.
Learn more about identifying as a carer at:
🔗 Am I a Carer? – Carers UK
⚠️ The Emotional and Physical Toll of Caring
It’s important to talk openly about how caring impacts people’s health. Carers often:
- Experience chronic stress,
- Face sleep deprivation,
- Suffer from anxiety or depression,
- Put their own health appointments and needs last.
These challenges are compounded when carers lack access to respite or community support. Many carers don’t ask for help — not because they don’t need it, but because they don’t want to burden others or don’t know where to turn.
📍 Local Help for Carers in Barking, Dagenham and Newham
If you are a carer in our community, support is available. We encourage you to connect with:
- 🔹 Carers of Barking & Dagenham
- 🔹 Newham Carers Community
- 🔹 Caremark Newham Contact Page
- 🔹 Caremark Barking and Dagenham Contact Page
Whether you need advice, respite, or emotional support, there are local organisations ready to help you. And we at Caremark are always here to listen and guide you.
👣 Our Role During Carers Week 2025
As we move closer to Carers Week 2025, we’ll continue to raise awareness about the daily realities unpaid carers face. From emotional strain to the lack of time for self-care, carers need more than praise — they need consistent, practical support.
At Caremark, we:
- Promote carer self-identification during client visits,
- Support family carers in managing their loved ones’ routines,
- Work closely with professionals to reduce carer burnout.
Together, we can make caring visible.
It’s time to work toward a more equal future for all carers.
By standing with carers this Carers Week 2025, we can help make lasting change.
📅 Join us tomorrow for Day 3 in our Carers Week series, where we’ll explore the financial burden faced by unpaid carers and how it shapes their lives.
🔗 Explore our Carers Week 2025 coverage
#CaringAboutEquality #SupportCarers #CarerAwareness