4.5 million additional people caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends since the Covid-19 pandemic

[Sarah_Mencap]

Hello again

New figures have just been released for Carers Week. A shocking 4.5 million additional people are caring for older, disabled or seriously ill relatives or friends since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Find out more here - carersuk.org/news-and-campa...

Has this affected you? I wondered what you thought about this huge number.

There is also lots about this on social media about Carers Week and this report - twitter.com/hashtag/carersw...

Best wishes

Sarah

[Shue Community friend]

The figures don't really suprise me. The support services were so underfunded and over stretched before the covid outbreak. Now with some staff ill and needing to shield and day services closed there's no other option but for family and friends to take on the total care of the individuals. In my own case 13 weeks of lockdown, no support, no break no real consideration of our emotional or mental health needs regardless of the complex needs of the individual. I know there will be many carers who feel forgotten and emotionally battered due to this experiance and the worrying thing is regardless of the high figures published nothing ever really changes for carers and the individuals they support.

[SamCJ66]

The only positive thing about this as that if carers are a bigger minority, then we may get more recognition by the government. This could mean that it makes financial sense to provide more services for us and our charges … but I wont hold my breath.

[Sarah_Mencap]

Hello Hidden

No Dougie, I am part of the online community team. I work from home, and sometimes in London (usually, but not at the moment because of coronavirus).

cheers

Sarah