Dementia Carers Face ‘Postcode Lottery’ on Quality of Life, Analysis Finds
Dementia carers in England face a “postcode lottery” in their quality of life, with those in some areas faring markedly worse than those in others, according to new analysis by Alzheimer’s Society.
The charity reviewed the Survey of Adult Carers in England 2025-2026 to establish where dementia carers report higher and lower quality of life, and which factors may shape their experiences of unpaid care.
Carers in County Durham reported the highest quality of life, scoring 8.7 out of a maximum of 12. Carers in Brent and Shropshire reported the lowest, both scoring 5.8.
Highest and lowest scoring areas
The five areas with the highest scores were:
- County Durham (8.7)
- Rutland (8.4)
- Richmond upon Thames (8.3)
- East Sussex (8.2)
- County of Herefordshire (8.1)
The five lowest scoring areas were:
- Brent (5.8)
- Shropshire (5.8)
- Ealing (5.9)
- Southwark (5.9)
- Nottingham (6.1)
What makes the difference
The analysis found that the factors most strongly linked to a better quality of life were being satisfied with the support received, being involved in discussions about care, and finding information easy to access.
The factors with the most negative impact were financial difficulty caused by caring, providing 100 or more hours of care a week, and loneliness.
More than a third of dementia carers (38.1%) provide 100 hours or more of care every week. Almost half (49%) say they experience loneliness, and almost one in five (19%) report having no control over their daily lives.
An estimated 1.8 million people in England provide some form of care for someone with dementia. The charity said the figures may understate the true scale of the problem, as the survey covers only carers known to their local council.
‘An absolute nightmare’
Karen Rangara, 52, cares for her father Frank, 84, who was diagnosed with mixed dementia in 2021. Frank lives at home with Karen’s mother, and the family has struggled to secure support from Brent Council.
‘It’s really tough mentally, as you put your own life on hold to be a carer,’ she said. ‘It’s not just the day-to-day care, which is a battle in itself, but also trying to plot a course for the future. Dealing with Brent Council has been an absolute nightmare. I’ve submitted request after request for additional support, chased repeatedly, and heard nothing back.’
She praised voluntary organisations, including Alzheimer’s Society and Community Action on Dementia (CAD) Brent, for their support and for explaining carers’ rights. However, she said that when carers approach the statutory bodies responsible for acting on those rights, ‘they either don’t know it’s their responsibility or push you onto another department’.
‘You have to fight with them to get them to accept that it falls under their remit and it simply shouldn’t be like that,’ she added.
Charity calls for consistent support
Michelle Dyson CB, chief executive of Alzheimer’s Society, said she was concerned that almost half of dementia carers experience loneliness and more than a third provide over 100 hours of care every week.
‘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,’ she said. ‘Whether you can cope with those demands should never depend on where you happen to live.’
She said the data showed that in areas where carers report better quality of life, more of them are also satisfied with their support, feel involved in care discussions and find information and advice easier to access. She cautioned that the findings ‘cannot tell us all the factors involved’, but said they underline the need for every family to be able to access the information and support they need, wherever they live.
The findings coincide with the launch of the Dementia Carers Together Appeal, run by Alzheimer’s Society with the Daily Mail. The campaign aims to raise millions of pounds for a new nationwide support network for people caring for someone with dementia.
