Project Details

The coronavirus pandemic poses major challenges for many groups, one of which, however, is usually not at the centre of public interest, is informal carers. This study therefore investigated the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on family carers and how social distancing measures and stricter hygiene requirements are affecting informal carers.

There is currently a lack of findings based on large, national samples on the challenges, resources and support needs of people with care needs and their carers during the pandemic.

The research project pursues the following research interest:

1. how do informal carers assess the risk of infection and how society is dealing with the coronavirus pandemic?

2. how does the coronavirus pandemic affect the care situation in home care arrangements?

3. how is the coronavirus pandemic affecting the compatibility of care and work - including the need for homeschooling?

4. how has the coronavirus pandemic affected the stress situation, social contacts and feelings of loneliness of informal carers?

5. what measures are perceived or desired by informal carers as support from politicians, employers, organisations and associations?

To this end, more than 1,000 informal carers in Germany who are under the age of 67 and who often have multiple work, family and care responsibilities were surveyed using an online questionnaire on their care situation, the compatibility of care and work and changes in their perceived burden of care and their state of health.