Coronavirus: Over one million elderly unpaid carers now at 'breaking point'

Over one and a half million unpaid carers aged 70+ who have taken on the responsibility of providing care for their loved ones are now at ‘breaking point’, according to a new poll.

Age UK has revealed that a poll commissioned by Carers UK showed 70 per cent of unpaid carers said the biggest challenges was the negative impacts of physical and mental health while 66 per cent said not being able to take time off from caring for their loved ones was one of the biggest challenges.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK said: “The caring responsibilities of almost seven million people are being affected by the coronavirus, of whom over one million are aged 70 plus, and it’s high time these fantastic people got the support they need.

“Almost all of them willingly provide care for the person they love but by repeatedly failing to fix social care the state is exploiting their goodwill and often leaving them to manage incredibly difficult situations alone.”

I ‘feel hurt, ignored, undervalued and worthless’

This burden on carers is being increased by the pandemic and it is leaving carers feeling forgotten and at breaking point.

One carer said: “My husband has been ill for the last four weeks he is in the mid to late stages Lewy body dementia, which has been very challenging to say the least and difficult to get diagnosed. Mentally and physically I am shattered and worried he’s lacking care he may need.

“I feel very upset every time I watch the government tell us what an amazing job the NHS and the care workers are doing and they are they have it tough.

“The fact we haven’t even been mentioned makes me feel hurt, ignored, undervalued and worthless.”

Helen Walker, chief executive of Carers UK, said the findings show "the COVID-19 pandemic is putting intolerable pressure on unpaid carers, especially older carers who are more likely to be living with the person they care for and shielding."

She added: “As the weeks pass by, the situation for unpaid carers is becoming untenable and they are being pushed to breaking point; many caring alone, around the clock, without being able to rely on any outside respite or support.”

’I am approaching burnout from having no respite’

The Age UK report also states many older carers have cancelled the home care packages of support to eliminate the risk of transmission of the virus from professional care workers. This has led to informal carers taking on more caring responsibilities, and in some cases, working right around the clock.

One person is too afraid to have a home care package put in place in fear carers will spread COVID-19 to their home. They told Age UK: “All home care visits were stopped so it falls to me despite the fact that I am of pension age and with disabilities.”

Another person told the charity: “We have lost three and a half days a week of day-care meaning my wife who attends misses her visits and as her carer my role has increased substantially.

“It means I am approaching burnout from having no respite from my caring role. I am having help with mental health issues and these have become worse lately.”

Ms Abrahams said: “It’s plain to see the heavy burden placed on these carers’ shoulders as they go to extreme lengths to protect their loved ones, including cancelling their care and support package to reduce the risk of this deadly virus being brought into their home.

"The resultant physical and emotional impact on them of having to do everything themselves, for a long period with no definite end yet in sight, cannot be underestimated.”

Cllr Ian Hudspeth, chairman of the Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board, said: “Councils are doing all they can to support carers and those they care for through this.

“Our care system could not survive without the contribution of unpaid carers, including those aged 70 and over, who provide vital support for thousands of people every day. Councils fully recognise their crucial role and they supported or assessed more than 345,000 unpaid carers in 2018/19.

“Unpaid caring can be extremely rewarding but we know it can also be a real strain – emotionally, physically and financially, especially during this pandemic, which is why councils are committed to doing all they can to support them.”

’The Prime Minister has promised to fix care, now he needs to with no more excuses’

Age UK, Carers UK, Local Government Association’s Community Wellbeing Board and Age UK/Carers’ Week supporter and actor Tony Robinson have also called for the government to finally refinance and reform social care.

Mr Robinson said: “Once the pandemic is over things have got to change! Our care system and the NHS should be better integrated. Health and social care must be delivered effectively together to support older people’s needs so they can live an independent and fulfilling later life.

“Big changes need to happen which is why I am standing with Age UK and carers around the county to ask the government to deliver a plan for much needed social care reform. “

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