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The lives of unpaid carers have always been difficult, but the Covid-19 pandemic introduced a new set of challenges. A sudden disappearance of key services left both carers, and those they care for, in dire straits; key services were cut, and money was funnelled into fighting the coronavirus, leaving many to struggle; physically, financially, and emotionally.
The most recent figures from the Scottish Government hold the number of carers at roughly 685,000, which includes 30,000 young carers (ages 4-17). Although unpaid carers were classed as ‘essential workers’ during the pandemic, it was the only unwaged occupation. They are still facing unprecedented hardships and many of the principal challenges that they are facing are remnants of the pandemic.
Carers, though, are not without advocates. There is a myriad of support groups, carer centres, and charities across Scotland and the UK. Just last week, the Carers Week initiative took place, and each local authority has a dedicated care sector.
Another project is the Carer Positive Award Programme (CPAP), a Scottish government funded initiative which aims to support those who work alongside performing duties as an unpaid carer.
Based out of Carers Scotland, Manager of CPAP, Sue McLintock says “during the pandemic, a lot of the services and supports which carers relied on were withdrawn and carers found that particularly challenging. Those have returned to a degree, but not fully since pre pandemic levels and a lot of carers are still really struggling with trying to support the people they care for.
“The post covid landscape has brought around a cost-of-living crisis, which is affecting carers particularly badly, who have increased utility bills as it is. For instance, having to keep the heating on at a greater extent or equipment that has to stay on at particular times. Carers are finding it increasingly difficult to continue the way that they have been and they’re in with very limited support through the carers allowance, which we do have a wee bit more of in Scotland through the additional support payment but it’s still not enough for many carers to be able to properly live on.”
Care Support Worker Josephine McGill of the Dixon Community Centre in Govanhill, Glasgow remarks that “the cost-of-living has been a massive issue for everyone, but being a carer, access to some services like respite and home-based services has also been an issue, particularly over covid. It’s a reduced service for some, we’ve not really got back up to full services yet.”
For young carers in particular, the lack of supportive infrastructure can seriously hinder quality of life. Josephines colleague, Michelle notes that “It’s having time to do things that you want to do, to go out with your friends, to have an education, some young carers struggle with getting homework done and struggle getting to school on time, things like that. So, just having the opportunities that their peers have, for some young people, is an issue.”
Also talking on the subject, Sue notes that “for young carers who are at particular transition points, if that recognition starts in school, then they get the support they need at later stages as well, because a lot of carers just simply fall through the net, and they don’t get the access to benefits that they might be entitled to.”
What seems to be a common theme is that charities such as Carers Week are positive initiatives, but only in certain respects, and limiting in others.
Commenting on the impact of Carers Week, Josephine says: “Carers Week is a chance for carers to come together. One of the main reasons that we use it for is about identify carers. There’s an awful lot of people in the area who don’t recognise that they’re a carer.
“So, we think carers week is a good thing and we use it to celebrate carers. There was also a lot of social media at that time around carers, so in that respect it is a good thing, but I don’t think that makes a massive different to carers, apart from identifying and celebrating carers.
In a similar vein, Sue notes that “there’s a lot of activity that can be carried out in the community in carers centres but at the end of the day, I’m sure the carers feel it’s all very well celebrating carers in carers week and talking about their issues and the challenges they face but actually if it’s no more than just doing that, it doesn’t really achieve a great deal, if it’s not then followed up with actions to better support, such as better resources and better support that they need to make their caring role less difficult.
“There’s a need for better identification of carers. A lot of carers don’t recognise themselves as carers and they don’t then get the support that they need, both amongst themselves but also across a whole range of different agencies, such as health services.”
So, what else can be done to support unpaid carers? An increase in benefits? More easily accessible local support networks? Increased funding for local care centres?
“Yes, to everything, yes to all of that” Sue responds, “Theres a sort of financial black hole really.
“There does need to be more support from the government and from local authorities but they themselves are finding it difficult because budgets are being cut everywhere and it’s difficult to find the level of resource that’s needed to be able to support carers effectively.
It is clear that support for carers, whilst admirable in its intentions, remains inadequate due to lack of financial support. Covid ravaged many services that support unpaid carers, many of which are yet to recover, and those in the care sector continue to struggle. Realistically, the care sector needs a financial boost in services that support both the physical and mental needs of carers, who seem to still be woefully underappreciated.
