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Health | Loneliness

Existing evidence has revealed how kinship carers are far more likely to have a disability or chronic health condition than unrelated foster carers[1], and that kinship households are more likely than parental households to be deprived and overcrowded, and to contain people who report long-term physical or mental health conditions or illness that limit their day-to-day activities.[2]

In addition, previous Kinship surveys have identified the significant health and wellbeing challenges facing many kinship carers. In our 2022 annual survey report – The Cost of Loving – over half (56%) of kinship carers told us they had a long-term health condition or disability with nearly a quarter (23%) needing but not receiving professional support for this. Only 15% said they had ever received therapeutic support to help them with the kinship carer role.[3]

In our 2023 annual survey, we prioritised asking questions which would allow comparison to the general population and other relevant cohorts on key self-reported measures of health and loneliness. The latter is particularly important given both the UK[4] and Welsh[5] Governments’ ongoing work to tackle loneliness and support meaningful social connections.

Health

13% of kinship carers who responded to this year’s survey said their health was either ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’; this is consistently a greater proportion than recorded elsewhere for adults in the general population, including within a wellbeing survey from August 2023 delivered by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) (9%)[6], by NHS England for a sample of adults in England in 2021 (7%)[7], and in the 2021 Census (5%)[8]. Similarly, far fewer survey respondents said their health was either ‘good’ or ‘very good’ compared to the same sources at 63%, 77% and 82% respectively.

13%

said their health was bad or very bad.

Being a kinship carer can be uniquely challenging. They are caring for children who have frequently experienced trauma, separation and loss, and they often struggle to access the support that they and their children need. Too many are left ‘fighting’ to be recognised and for support. These factors can take a toll on kinship carers in terms of the emotional and physical labour demanded. The often unrelenting strain can lead to or exacerbate existing health conditions or disabilities, limiting kinship carers’ ability to care for their children as they may want to and impacting on children’s own health and educational outcomes in the future.[9]

“My health has deteriorated due to lack of care I am under a great deal of stress. Have had cancer and now am suffering with shingles.”

Grandparent and special guardian

“Due to our age and the fact that we do not get any respite at all from our grandson even for a day. I feel that my health will eventually take its toll.”

Grandparent and special guardian

“I have heart failure and my husband has asthma and we are mid to late 70s. What would happen should we become unable to care for her?”

Grandparent with an informal arrangement

Loneliness

Over one third (36%) of survey respondents were caring for a kinship child (or children) on their own, consistent with last year’s annual survey results, with the remainder most commonly caring alongside a child with a spouse or partner.[10] This is a greater proportion than for foster carers: in a recent survey of foster carers across the UK, 75% were fostering with their partner or other adult.

36%

were caring for a child on their own.

Caring for a child alone without the support of anyone else can intensify many of the financial, practical and emotional challenges; this is highlighted in many of the key findings which follow where kinship carers going it alone are more likely to report ongoing worries about finances, health and their ability to continue caring for their kinship children.

“I suffer from depression and anxiety and look after the children on my own and never have a break, I’ve been close to giving up several times and I’m not sure how long I can cope with no help.”

Grandparent with an informal arrangement

“I am a lone carer looking after my own child, my two nephews, working part time, dealing with my own health issues, navigating the breakdown of my own marriage.”

Aunt and family and friends foster carer

“My child presents with challenging behaviours. And has I’m getting older it’s becoming harder to deal with on my own as a single parent as she’s getting bigger and stronger than me.”

Grandparent with a child arrangements or residence order

Nearly 1 in 5 respondents (19%) said they felt lonely ‘often or always’. This is considerably higher than that recorded within the ONS’ August 2023 wellbeing survey (8%)[11] and the Community Life Survey 2021/22 for England (6%)[12]. Reported loneliness was understandably higher again for kinship carers who were caring for their kinship child (or children) by themselves: over a quarter (26%) of respondents caring alone said they felt lonely ‘often or always’ compared to 15% of those caring alongside a partner or spouse.

Nearly 1 in 5

felt lonely often or always.

Kinship carers commonly report that friendships fade as their time becomes focused on ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their kinship child (or children), leaving them isolated and with little opportunity to connect with fiends and other loved ones who may struggle to understand their new circumstances.

“We are more isolated as I used to take them out all the time but I just can’t afford to do so anymore.”

Grandparent and special guardian

“It can be lonely especially if you are older and have mobility issues.”

Grandparent and special guardian

Nearly half (46%) of respondents said that meeting other kinship carers who have had similar experiences to them was either ‘very important’ or ‘important’. We know that peer support can help to improve kinship carers’ emotional wellbeing and reduce isolation, and Kinship is proud of our history pioneering the development of peer support groups through evidence-informed programmes  such as Kinship Connected.[13]

Our Peer Support Service, funded by the Department for Education, has to date established over 130 new peer support groups to help kinship carers on their journey. Kinship Compass – our independent advice, information and support hub – can connect kinship carers to online and local in-person peer support groups, as well as special interest groups including those for men, LGBTQ+ carers, younger kinship carers and others.

[1] Farmer and Moyers (2008)

[2] Office for National Statistics (2023a)

[3] Kinship (2022a)

[4] Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2022)

[5] Welsh Government (2020)

[6] Office for National Statistics (2023c)

[7] NHS England (2021)

[8] Office for National Statistics (2023d)

[9] Selwyn et al (2013), Wellard et al (2017)

[10] Kinship (2022)

[11] Office for National Statistics (2023c)

[12] Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2022)

[13] Starks and Whitley (2020)