Authors
Summary
This report focuses on experiences of feeling lonely and of accessing support among a key group of carers in April and May 2020, during the official COVID-19 ‘lockdown’ period. It contrasts their experiences with those of other people. An estimated 6,048,286 adults in the UK provided care to someone living outside their own household in 2020. They are a ‘subset’ of the 10,991,440 estimated adult carers. About the study: ‘Carers’ were identified by combining data in the COVID-19 April 2020 wave¹ with data in wave 9 (2017-19) of Understanding Society. Wave 9 asked people if they provided care to anyone outside the household who was elderly or had a long-term illness or disability. The COVID-19 April 2020 wave asked respondents about care for persons outside the household (data on their age, long-term illness or disability status were not collected). People who answered ‘Yes’ to both questions are the (unpaid) carers providing care outside the household referred to in this report.