unpaid carers

Tens of thousands of people are turning to social services for urgent help because of the impact of the COVID-19 crisis on families and individuals with support needs, who are unable to cope any further on their own, or whose usual arrangements have broken down.

Those who were shielding, unpaid carers and key workers are at least twice as likely to have fallen behind on a household bill because of coronavirus.

The Government must ensure that social care is never again left exposed to a pandemic, says the President of the Association of Directors of Adult Social Care.

Carers say they feel ignored and invisible in the pandemic, with some left to care round the clock for loved ones with complex health conditions and disabilities.