CARERS in Warrington have felt isolated and alone during the COVID-19 pandemic according to a recent study.
There was also a lack of respite care in the town – and a lack of funding for carers to access respite care.
This has been revealed in a study by Healthwatch Warrington organised to investigate the experience of those providing care during the pandemic.
The study also revealed a lack of availability of respite care provision in an emergency, while some also felt a stigma around respite care, saying accessing it would seem like failure.
Healthwatch Warrington organised an event at the Gateway to obtain feedback from carers and also received information through their Virtual Voices panel and website healthwatchwarrington.co.uk/
Feedback revealed a broad range of views from those involved in the study. These included a lack of respite care in Warrington, a lack of availability of respite carers in an emergency and a lack of funding for carers to access respite care.
There was also a stigma around using respite for a small group of people who felt that accessing this would make them seem like a failure. Carers felt isolated and alone as many of their activities and support were cancelled due to the pandemic.
A consensus was that those involved in care wanted more befriending services and wellbeing checks or even a simple welfare check to help them to feel heard and less isolated. They felt that “Carers Strain” was a big issue.
Healthwatch work in partnership with Warrington Borough Council Social Care and attend the Carers Partnership Board. Their report will now be shared with the local authority, so it will complement the ongoing work for the Warrington Carers Strategy. Recommendations will also be discussed.
Healthwatch CEO Lydia Thompson said: “We would like to take this opportunity to thank all the carers and their families for their vital participation, and our partners who enabled feedback.”
