Nearly half a million (485,000) vulnerable and elderly people only have social contact with their care worker, a new survey has found.
The survey of care workers, commissioned by Newcross Healthcare, found 49% had at least one patient whose only regular social contact is them.
A quarter of care workers also warned their patients cannot afford to turn their heating on, with 23% saying they cannot afford the correct food or nutrition.
Co-founder & COO of Newcross Healthcare and nurse, Michelle Gorringe, said: 'Chronic understaffing means that care visits are shortened or do not happen making the situation worst. As a society, we don't recognise the work social care workers do enough, and this just shows another element of the vital work they do for our vulnerable and elderly.
'Care workers are very special people who can transform someone's day with a touch or a smile.'
The survey also found more than a quarter (27%) of care workers are considering leaving the sector in the next 12 months.
