Health · Mental Health · 16 hrs ago
Dementia carers' quality of life varies widely across England
A government survey found wide differences in dementia carers' quality of life across England.
County Durham carers scored 8.7 out of 12, while those in Brent and Shropshire scored 5.8.
Overall, dementia carers scored an average of 7.1, below the 7.3 average for other carers.
The figures show that financial strain, long care hours and loneliness weigh heavily on carers; more than a third provide at least 100 hours of care a week.
Almost half say they feel lonely often or some of the time, and 19 per cent say they have no control over their daily life.
Carers report better quality of life when they are satisfied with support, included in care discussions and can find information easily.
A nationwide six-week course is planned to give unpaid dementia carers support, information about their rights and services, and a chance to meet others in similar situations.
Dementia carers’ quality-of-life scores vary widely across England, according to the Government’s Survey of Adult Carers in England.
Carers in County Durham had the highest reported score, 8.7 out of 12, while those in Brent and Shropshire scored 5.8.
Dementia carers had an average score of 7.1, compared with 7.3 for other carers.
Alzheimer’s Society said financial difficulty, caring for more than 100 hours a week and loneliness have the most negative impact on carers’ quality of life.
The charity said satisfaction with support, involvement in care discussions and access to information have a positive impact.
- Who
- People caring for someone with dementia in England.
- What
- Their reported quality of life varies by area and is lower on average than that of other carers.
- When
- The article was published on 9 November 2026. The survey period is not stated.
- Where
- England.
- Why
- The article says financial difficulty, providing more than 100 hours of care a week and loneliness have the most negative impact.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
This story does not have a timeline yet.
- County Durham
- Quality-of-life score of 8.7 out of 12
- Brent and Shropshire
- Quality-of-life score of 5.8
- Dementia carers
- Average quality-of-life score of 7.1
- Other carers
- Average quality-of-life score of 7.3
- High-intensity care
- 38.1 per cent of dementia carers provide at least 100 hours of care each week
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What people are saying
These are people giving extraordinary amounts of themselves to care for someone they love, and far too many are paying the price with their own quality of life.
Whether you can cope with those demands should never depend on where you happen to live.