Posted on: 29 April 2020
The vast majority of the time, care is provided behind closed doors, in people’s homes and is largely invisible to the general public.
Now in the midst of the coronavirus crisis, Carers UK have carried out an online survey and heard from over 5,000 carers or former carers. Forgotten families in the coronavirus outbreak, April 2020 reports on the experience of Carers during COVID-19.
The report highlights the fact that many carers are now providing more care than they have done ever before and that the need of self-isolation or shielding with the addition of the closure of local services and reduced support have had a particularly powerful knock on effect for our carers.
A number of other areas of concern include:
- 70% of carers are providing more care due to the outbreak
- over 1/3 (35%)of carers are providing more care as a result of local services reducing or closing
- carer's are on average providing ten additional hours of care a week
- 69% of all carers are providing more help with emotional support, motivation, or keeping an eye or checking in on the person they care for
- 81% of carers are spending more money at the moment, with 72% spending more on food and 50% were spending more on household bills
As a Partnership we have already taken significant steps to address some of the concerns highlighted in this report. Some of this work includes;
- The development of a 'plan B' document to support carers to plan for the event of contracting the virus or being unable to care for a short period
- The development of discharge packs containing a carer's ID letter, basic information on staying safe at home during the outbreak and advice for carers during the COVID 19 epidemic
- A suite of resources will soon be available online here to support the mental wellbeing of carers
- Continued work alongside voluntary and community organisations to ensure that carers are identified and linked into local and national schemes including the NHS volunteer responders service
In addition to this work we are also looking to improve:
- Information and advice for carers looking after a loved one coming towards the end of their life
- Resources to support partners to dispel fears within the carer's community about utilising health and care services during this time
- Identifying digital resources to support our young carers.
Download 'Caring Behind Closed Doors'