Three in 10 dementia carers say they can continue for no more than a year

Three in 10 unpaid carers of people with dementia say they can continue caring for no more than a year, according to a Dutch survey published by Alzheimer Nederland and research institute Nivel. The findings underline the strain on carers as the organisations warn that their numbers are expected to grow.

More than half of the survey’s respondents reported psychological and physical problems. A majority also said they felt lonely and had relationship difficulties. Nearly seven in 10 found it hard to combine caring with work and family life.

Among respondents who were employed, one in five said they had cut their hours, by an average of just over one working day. Fifteen per cent said they had stopped working because of their caring responsibilities.

The Dementiemonitor survey was conducted between March and June 2026 and received responses from more than 12,000 people. Most respondents were women, with an average age of 66. They were recruited through Alzheimer Nederland’s online channels and other dementia networks.

The organisations said timely access to a case manager, better planning of care and dementia-aware employment policies could help prevent carers becoming overwhelmed and leaving their role. Alzheimer Nederland expects the number of carers to rise in coming years, citing an ageing population and staffing shortages in healthcare.

The report estimates that about 320,000 people in the Netherlands have a form of dementia, and that roughly 800,000 people provide unpaid care.