Journalist and campaigner Michael McEwan reports for healthandcare.scot on bleak findings that reveal the exent of unpaid carers' continuing struggle to stay afloat, and highlights the importance of #CarersWeek2022 in increasing the profile of this group among policymakers and the public.

A column I wrote last year raised how covid-19 has highlighted further the issues which people with disabilities, and their carers, already faced pre pandemic.

Carers Trust Scotland recently carried out research to understand experiences and challenges that the pandemic raised for unpaid carers, carers' support and carers' services.

An unpaid carer is someone who cares for a friend or a family member who, due to illness, disability, a mental health problem, or an addiction, relies wholly on their support.

A carer support worker is a paid member of staff who works for a carer service, to support unpaid carers.

A paid carer is someone who is employed to provide one to one care.

So here is what the survey found:

• 52% of carers surveyed have been caring for someone for more than 10 years
• 44-45 years is the average age of carers surveyed
• 90% spent longer caring during covid
• 46% highlighted their care needs had intensified
• 50% saw their mental health deteriorate during the pandemic and 45% saw their physical health deteriorate
• 82% were unable to access respite, or support in caring
• 36% accessed carer support service at their local carer centre
• 45% accessed other forms of carer support services during the pandemic
• 87% of unpaid carers do not have access to online support services
• 44% feel the contribution of unpaid carers during the pandemic hasn't been valued by local and national governments.

From that survey it's worrying that 50% said their mental health has been affected during the pandemic.Statistics indicate that unpaid carers aren't getting enough external support, coupled with time for themselves. This would strongly impact their state of mind.

Access to the internet is commonplace, but for unpaid carers there is still a lot of technology poverty that appears not to be addressed.

While you're reading this blog, it will be Carers Week from 7-13th June. This year's theme is ‘Make Caring Visible, Valued and Supported’.

Unpaid carers and the challenges of caring should be recognised in all areas of life, and their role should be valued and respected in society. Carers should be able to access the information and support they need.

Each day from the 7th there will be a different focus, more on this can found at www.carersweek.org.

Michael McEwan is a freelance journalist.

Sign up to our bulletin for key health & social care updates straight to your inbox.