Abstract
COVID-19 has posed serious challenges for informal carers living in the UK. This article examines some of the specific challenges facing carers and the resources they used to manage them throughout the first UK lockdown. We used a framework approach to analyse naturalistic, longitudinal data from 30 carers taking part in 96 of Mobilise’s daily Virtual Cuppas between March and July 2020. We found that lack of information and social restrictions cumulatively impacted carers’ sense of certainty, control and motivation. This took an emotional toll on the carers, leading to exhaustion and burden. However, carers quickly established new routines and used humour and self-care to actively manage their wellbeing. Carers received support but also provided it to those in need, including fellow members of the caregiving community, supporting an ecological approach to carer resilience. Our findings may be used to anticipate challenges and promote protective resilience resources in future lockdowns.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 236-246 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Qualitative Health Research |
Volume | 33 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Jan 2023 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by the Social Sciences Platform for Entrepreneurship, Commercialisation and transformation (ASPECT), the Economic and Social Research Council (Ref. ES/S002049/1), and the University of Sheffield.
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2023.
Research Groups and Themes
- Ageing Futures
- SPS Centre for Research in Health and Social Care