Impact of COVID-19
This course was developed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The report 2020 Vision: Hear Me, See Me, Support Me and Don’t Forget Me [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] (Carers Trust Scotland, 2020) illustrates the additional challenges for carers and how the pandemic has in some cases reinforced existing inequalities.
Carers interviewed for the report shared the following experiences:
I have no help or support whatsoever now – I’m caring 24/7 and I’m exhausted and mentally drained. My young carers service is closing before lockdown ends so I now won’t have any support and I don’t know how I’m going to cope. (Young adult carer, 22, p. 2).
I moved away for university and had to move back due to lockdown. Trying to finish assignments and do the caring role that was usually done by carers that came in is very difficult. (Young adult carer, 22, p. 11).
It makes you very isolated mentally. Support you used to be able to get from family and friends suddenly stops as no one can come and step in to give you a break as they’re not allowed near you or even in the house. (Young adult carer, 20, p. 14).
Since the pandemic started and lockdown began, my time caring has doubled since the time where I would have been at work is now spent caring so my mum can work. The lockdown has made the person I care for more agitated and he has had more meltdowns since it started which have been extremely stressful to deal with. He has no services at the moment so my mum and I can't get a break. (Young adult carer, 22, p. 15).
Disability and mental health