Comedian Paddy Raff has opened up about his role as an unpaid carer for his younger sister Sarah, who has cerebral palsy, epilepsy, and learning difficulties. The 42-year-old Belfast comedian is among millions of unpaid carers across the UK, balancing his career with significant caregiving responsibilities.
Carers face significant time and financial burdens
According to research by Specsavers, unpaid carers dedicate an average of 26 hours per month to attending healthcare appointments, with an additional 12 hours weekly spent organising, travelling to, and waiting for care services. Nearly one in three carers (30%) devote more than 40 hours each month solely to healthcare support, equivalent to a full working week.
Paddy, who helps care for his 36-year-old sister Sarah, explained that the family does not view themselves as carers. "We don't really see ourselves as carers. We're family first and foremost. It's just something that becomes part of your life," he said. "My mum does the bulk of the care but all of us, siblings and aunties, we all chip in."
The challenges of medical appointments
For families like Paddy's, even routine healthcare appointments can be daunting. Transporting Sarah requires meticulous planning and often involves multiple people. "It's a three-person job just to get her out. You're thinking, 'how far do we have to go? What's the access like? Will they see her on time?' These things will live in my mum's mind for weeks before the appointment. It can be very stressful," Paddy said.
Paddy discovered Specsavers Home Visits, a service that provides eye care and hearing services at home, which proved transformative. "I hadn't even thought that someone might come to the house to do it, it was a real godsend," he said. "It alleviates a lot of stress. You don't have to plan how you're getting there or worry about whether it will work once you arrive."
A positive experience at home
For Sarah, the home visit turned her eye examination into an engaging experience. Optometrists Graham Hanna and Matthew Brennan from Specsavers Home Visits Northern Ireland made the process enjoyable. "Matthew and Graham turned it into a bit of a game, matching letters, and she loved it. She was buzzing, she gave me a massive high five. They were very accommodating of her needs and they did things at her pace," Paddy recalled.
He added, "It's been really refreshing to have such a painless process and get a good result at the end of it, which is a thorough eye test. As long as the person you're caring for is happy, that's all that matters."
Financial impact on unpaid carers
The research also highlighted the financial strain on carers. Two-fifths (43%) lose income due to caring responsibilities, and 44% have adjusted their working hours. One in ten have stopped working altogether. Unpaid carers spend an average of £68.90 per month supporting loved ones at appointments, with 58% spending up to £100 monthly and 16% spending more than £100.
The Specsavers Home Visits service offers eligible individuals a complete, NHS-funded eye examination at home, along with free home hearing assessments in many locations across the UK. Families can check eligibility at specsavers.co.uk/home-visits.
