Background

During the COVID-19 pandemic, carers over the age of 70 with spouses or partners living with dementia and residing at home have faced several challenges.

These include the withdrawal of services, restrictions of movement and risks of illness. The pandemic has also placed a strain on some of those living with dementia.

New emergency legislation was introduced in the Coronavirus Act 2020 by the UK government in response to the pandemic. This included the unprecedented powers for local authorities to suspend the majority of their adult social care duties required under the Care Act 2014 (known as ‘easements’).

Aims and objectives

• Investigated the consequences of Care Act Easements on carers (aged 70+) of people living with dementia at home, comparing experiences of carers in different local authorities.
• Explored this issue with safeguarding and social work leads, who were involved in making decisions in the context of this particular set of circumstances.

Resources and further information

• Final report: The Impact of Care Act Easements (PDF)
• Executive summary: The Impact of Care Act Easements (PDF)
• Summary briefing: The Impact of Care Act Easements (PDF)
• Appendices to the final report: The Impact of Care Act Easements (PDF)
• Webinar one recording: The impact of Care Act Easements – lessons from the pandemic (YouTube)
• Webinar one slides: The impact of Care Act Easements on co-resident carers over 70 supporting partners living at home with dementia (PDF)
• Webinar two recording: Impact of Care Act Easements webinar – Older People & Frailty Policy Research Unit NIHR (YouTube)
• Blog: Research with family carers of people living with dementia: recruiting during the pandemic (British Society of Gerontology)
• Blog: Teasing the easing of the Care Act 2014: Transparent legal protection or hidden unmet need? (British Society of Gerontology)

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