‘Exhausted’ family and friends spent 92 million extra hours caring for dementia sufferers during lockdown

More than nine in ten say the increased caring hours have impacted their health

Many saw their dementia symptoms deteriorate over lockdown (PA)

Friends and family members have spent an additional 92 million hours caring for loved ones with dementia since lockdown, an investigation by the Alzheimer’s Society shows, as the charity urges the government to “fix social care now”.

The toll on carers has been extreme: a striking 95 per cent surveyed said the increased hours spent caring have had a negative impact on their mental or physical health. 

Nearly seven in 10 (69 per cent) reported feeling “constantly exhausted”, while 64 per cent experienced anxiety and 49 per cent suffered from depression. One in two had developed issues with their sleep.