The COVID-19 pandemic has had a devastating effect on the lives of carers and those they are caring for.
A report this morning from Carers UK finds that a majority have had to provide extraordinary hours of care for loved ones with increasing needs during the crisis, often without the usual help from family and friends, and with limited or no support from local services.
As a result, many people providing care have been left exhausted, socially isolated and close to burnout. Adding to these considerable pressures, carers have also taken a financial hit, and seen their health and wellbeing decline.
The study found that 4 in 5 unpaid carers are currently providing more care than before lockdown.
More than three quarters of carers reported that the needs of the person they care for have increased recently.
Most carers have not been able to take any breaks at all in the last six months and more than half of carers have seen their physical health impacted by caring through the pandemic, while 64% said their mental health has worsened.
The Organisation is calling on the Government to continue to introduce measures that support carers, including making sure that carers can take breaks and that the return of essential services, raising the level of Carer’s Allowance and supporting carers’ to look after their own health and wellbeing, and providing targeted funding for carers mental health support.
They want to ensure that carers are better able to juggle work and care and remain in work and provide for sufficient funding for social care over the winter.
Helen Walker, Chief Executive of Carers UK, said:
“The majority of carers have only known worry and exhaustion throughout this pandemic. They continue to provide extraordinary hours of care, without the usual help from family and friends and with limited or no support from local services.
“It’s no surprise that carers’ physical and mental health is suffering, badly. I am deeply concerned that so many carers are on the brink and desperately worried about how they will manage during the next wave of the pandemic. Government must prioritise carers in its plans, carry out an urgent review of breaks’ services and ensure that wider social care services have enough funding to manage over winter. We strongly urge local authorities to use the Infection Control Fund to help reinstate crucial day and support services that carers really need.”
