How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected Ealing residents with a disability and their carers?
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From July 2021, Healthwatch Ealing partnered with Ealing Council to identify how adult residents living with disabilities and their unpaid family carers have been affected by the pandemic, including their experiences of the Health and Social Care system. Data was collected via a survey and two discussion forums. Altogether, 152 people shared their views and experiences.
Overall, the views and experiences expressed by individuals during this project provides evidence that health and social care partners must work together to improve communication with disabled individuals around their care and ensure that all aspects of care are being consistently delivered to the highest standard. The feedback also indicated that a more person-centred approach to care should be implemented to ensure that people are being appropriately supported. This includes identifying the best method of contact for individuals where a virtual approach to care is insufficient.
Further insight into the pandemic’s impact was provided during the discussion forums in which individuals indicated that their paid support had been decreased during the pandemic, that the reliance on digital technology did make access to services and information difficult and that the isolation they experienced significantly affected their mental wellbeing and that of family members who supported them during this time.
Lastly, the impact of the pandemic on unpaid, family carers’ health was made clear. These individuals highlighted the need for more effective communication from their loved one’s social care provider and the delivery of mental health support for them, in order to improve the health inequalities experienced by their loved ones and themselves.
Recommendations include prioritising easy and straight forward communication from social care providers, ensuring that the standard of social care is consistently met, identifying barriers to mental health support, adopting a more person-centred approach to health and social care and the continuation of research and engagement work with these communities to understand the most efficient ways that Ealing health partners can alleviate inequalities.