Millions of Britons are having sleepless nights worrying about the health and wellbeing of their elderly parents, a new survey has revealed. The YouGov poll, commissioned by telecare company Centra Pulse, discovered that half of women and more than a third of men with a parent aged over 65 have been kept awake at night worrying about their parents’ health. Worries about older parents were more likely to prevent people from sleeping than concerns over money, children, work or their own health.

The findings coincide with a campaign by Centra Pulse to raise awareness of how telecare technology can support people with complex care needs to live more independently. The campaign is being backed by TV presenter Ruth Langsford and media medic Dr Dawn Harper, who said: “I think the benefits of telecare go beyond the individual who uses this kind of technology; it also supports the relatives and carers who are worrying about them in the background.”