One of the first articles we ever published on When They Get Older was about how people are finding themselves in the position of sandwich carers - still responsible for their children but also taking on an increasing role as carers for their ageing parents. And that's on top of commitments to work, friends, and their own quality of life.
According to the charity Carers UK, it can take unpaid carers two years to realise that this is what they now are. And that's two years when they could have been receiving support and advice. The group estimates there are 5.7m unpaid carers in the UK. Carers UK campaigns on their behalf, as well as offering advice and practical help.
The financial challenges have been highlighted recently too, with carers needing to work to pay their bills, but struggling to find the time to care for older relatives too.
If you need support and advice about caring, visit our Directory at When They Get Older, where we list contact details for organisations such as Carers UK, AgeUK, and the dementia charities.