THERE are around six million people acting as carers in the UK, with more than a million caring for more than one person.

Although they do the job without a second thought - many don't realise they actually qualify as carers - and save the economy £57 billion a year, life is tough for carers.

Some two thirds of those questioned for a Carers' Week survey said their relationship had suffered as a direct result of their caring responsibilities, with one in ten missing out on quality time with their partners.

When carers did get time to relax, 21 per cent said they used it to catch up on their sleep, with a further 28 per cent using the opportunity to carry out chores.

Some 63 per cent of carers admitted they felt a loss of identity as a direct result of their caring role, while three-quarters had not had a regular break in the last 12 months.

In addition, the financial situation of carers is often weaker because they are less able to focus on their career, according to 57 per cent of those questioned.

The findings of the nationwide survey, which involved 3,500 carers, are echoed by Val Mitchell, carers services manager for Borough of Poole's adult social services.

"Even if you're getting old and half expecting your health to fail, it's a huge shock to both the cared-for person and the carer," she said.

"People have to come to terms with that and there's a whole grieving process.

"Grieving naturally involves frustration, anger and depression, so they will both experience all of those emotions.

"People do an amazing job to get through that - every day we see remarkable resilience.

"However, for some people it gets them completely and they can't cope and for other people it gets them from time to time."

The very nature of caring means carers also often tend to feel isolated and many do not feel able to talk even to family and friends about their problems and concerns.

Bournemouth Borough Council's carers' co-ordinator Debbie Hyde said: "It's true it does have a negative effect on relationships and yes, people do struggle financially.

"People don't get a lot of option - it just happens.

"You cope and nobody trains you."

But there is help available.

Bournemouth council organised a number of events, including trips to Brownsea Island and coffee mornings, during Carers' Week, but other activities take place regularly throughout the year.

"We want them to meet some other people, because it's very lonely being a carer," said Debbie.

Bournemouth also has a carers' register, members of which regularly receive information about a range of subjects related to caring.

Borough of Poole also offers valuable support to its carers, as Val explains.

"The biggest thing that we can do is have a social worker come out and do an assessment of the cared-for person's need and the carer's need.

"That way we can find out about the family as individuals and what they want and what we think we could do for them."

In addition, the council can organise home care and day care to give carers a well-deserved break.

"That's really important," said Val.

"Particularly with things like dementia, where the person being cared for's reality is not always the same as the carer's.

"Sometimes even mental health conditions or learning disabilities, because communication is quite frustrating."

The council can provide blue badges for the disabled to park more easily across the town, as well as special radar keys, which open disabled toilets.

There are regular training courses held to give carers advice about a whole range of issues, from benefits, to continence and first aid, to assertiveness and stress management, and the council organises regular trips out for both carers and cared-for people.

"People really are amazing," said Val.

"It's incredible, the human spirit and the love that we see on a day-to-day basis is huge."

  • To join Bournemouth Borough Council's carers' register, visit the carers' page of the council's website or call Debbie Hyde on 01202 458204.