Family carers in Welwyn Garden City are often the last people to look after themselves, and new national figures show how much that costs them. This autumn there is practical carer support Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield families can use, from local carers' hubs to regular breaks that let you rest while someone you trust stays with the person you care for.
What do the new national figures say about carers' health?
On 24 September 2026, the Department of Health and Social Care published its commentary on the Survey of Adult Carers in England 2025 to 2026. The survey covers unpaid carers aged 18 and over who look after another adult and are known to their council's adult social services. It drew 43,460 completed questionnaires, according to the commentary.
The figures are sobering. Over a third of carers (34.7%) spend 100 hours or more a week looking after the person they care for. Around a quarter (25.7%) said they had developed their own health conditions as a result of caring.
Sleep stands out. The survey reports that 79.4% of carers felt tired and 67.1% had disturbed sleep, while 64.8% described a general feeling of stress. Only 46.0% felt able to look after themselves in terms of getting enough sleep or eating well.
Why a carer's own wellbeing matters so much
Families we support often tell us they only noticed how tired they were once they had a few hours back. That is not a failing. It is what happens when caring fills every day and most nights.
The same DHSC commentary found that just 16.8% of carers felt able to spend their time as they want, doing things they value or enjoy. Only 31.0% felt they had as much social contact as they want with people they like. Good carer support in Welwyn Garden City often starts with small, regular breaks, which give a carer time back for rest, friends and the things they enjoy.
Looking after your own health also protects the person you care for. A carer who has slept, eaten properly and seen a friend is often better placed to stay patient and notice small changes. If you have concerns about your own health, your GP is the right first step, or NHS 111 if you need advice quickly.
Carer support in Welwyn Garden City this autumn
Carers in Herts runs a regular Welwyn Garden City hub, where carers meet each other, share information and chat over a cuppa. The next one is on Wednesday 21 October 2026, from 12 noon to 2pm, at the United Reformed Church, Church Road, Welwyn Garden City, AL8 6PS. Its theme fits this autumn's figures closely: a Stress and Sleep session at the Welwyn Garden City carers' hub, looking at how stress affects us and how to improve sleep, with simple relaxation techniques to practise.
Carers in Herts is also holding a free First Aid Workshop on Thursday 5 November 2026, from 10.30am to 12pm, at Welwyn Garden City Central Library, Campus West. It is run with the British Red Cross and covers basic lifesaving skills using everyday objects, though it does not award a qualification. To book either session, call Carers in Herts on 01992 58 69 69 or use the booking form on its website.
Healthwatch Hertfordshire posted a carers survey on 24 September 2026, asking unpaid carers to share their experiences. It takes around 5 minutes, and you can call 01707 275978 to ask for another format or to give your views by phone. Further ahead, Carers UK has announced that Carers Rights Day 2026 falls on Thursday 19 November, with the theme "Someone you know is a carer, but do they know it yet?"
How a regular break protects the carer too
A break works best when it is planned, regular and with someone the person you care for already knows. That is the thinking behind respite care: you step away knowing the routine, the meals and the small preferences will carry on as usual.
There are three common shapes, and many families use more than one over a year:
- Respite visits. A familiar carer comes at the same time each week, perhaps for a morning, so you can see your own GP, go to the Stress and Sleep hub or simply sleep.
- A sitting service. A carer stays for company and gentle help at home while you have an afternoon or evening out, whether that is a walk in Handside or supper with friends in Welwyn village.
- A short spell of live-in care. A carer lives in for a week or two, which can give you a proper holiday or a chance to recover your own health.
Our earlier guide to respite care in Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield explains how each option works in more detail. If you drive to visit a relative, our article on the personal carer permit in Welwyn Hatfield may also help.
Our local team in Welwyn Hatfield
We are an independent, family-run home care provider regulated by the Care Quality Commission. Our Welwyn Hatfield team arranges visiting and live-in care across Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield and the surrounding villages, and you can read more on our Welwyn Hatfield home care page.
We try to send the same small group of carers each time, so visits feel familiar rather than new. Before anything begins, we visit to agree a care plan with you and the person you care for. Visiting care starts from £34 an hour and live-in care from £255 a day; these are starting rates, and a price is agreed after the assessment.
To talk through the carer support Welwyn Garden City and Hatfield families most often ask us about, call our local team on 01707 714 000 or email [email protected].
Common questions about carer support in Welwyn Garden City
Where can carers meet other carers in Welwyn Garden City?
Carers in Herts runs a hub at the United Reformed Church on Church Road. The October session is on Wednesday 21 October, 12 noon to 2pm, with a Stress and Sleep theme. Ring 01992 58 69 69 to book or to ask about later dates.
How common is it for caring to affect a carer's own health?
It is very common. In the national Survey of Adult Carers in England 2025 to 2026, around a quarter of carers said they had developed their own health conditions because of caring. Two thirds reported disturbed sleep.
How short can a respite break be?
A break can be as short as a regular visit of an hour or two each week. Some families prefer a longer sitting visit for an evening out, and others book a week or two of live-in care. We agree the length with you after an assessment.
Will the person I care for see the same carer each time?
That is what we aim for. We keep a small, consistent group of carers for each person, working to a care plan agreed with the family. Familiar faces usually make a break easier for everyone.
Caring for someone you love is demanding work, and it is reasonable to plan for your own rest as carefully as you plan their routine. A hub in Welwyn Garden City, a call to Carers in Herts or a regular few hours to yourself can all make the months ahead feel more manageable.
Details checked against GOV.UK, Carers in Herts, Carers UK and Healthwatch Hertfordshire on 12 October 2026. Our prices are starting rates, checked on the same date.
Arranging Care Is Simple
Starting care can feel like a big step. We keep it calm and straightforward, and we are here to guide you from your very first call.
1. Talk to us
Get in touch by phone or request a callback. We will listen, answer your questions and help you understand the options, so you can decide what feels right in your own time.
2. A home visit and initial consultation
We arrange a visit to understand your routines, your home and what matters most to you. Together we agree an initial consultation and shape the support that feels right.
3. Your care begins
A small, familiar team starts your care, arriving at the agreed times and staying involved as your needs change. We remain your trusted adviser throughout.
Whenever you are ready, we are here to help.