New publication: Rural unpaid caregivers' experiences in Northern Aotearoa, New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic: A qualitative study

In the national response to control COVID-19 transmission, unpaid family care has been the mainstay of health and social care provision in the community. However, the voices and stories of family carers have been invisible, and our knowledge of the successes, rewards, and challenges faced by those providing care to kaumātua/older people is limited. In particular, rural unpaid caregivers experienced different opportunities and challenges than their urban counterparts during the pandemic. A recently published study in the Australian Journal of Rural Health describes rural unpaid caregivers’ experiences of challenges and opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand. The research was conducted as part of the “Health Equity and Wellbeing among Older People’s Caregivers during COVID-19” study, led by Prof Vanessa Burholt. The authors (Rosemary Frey, Janine Wiles, Deborah Balmer, Pare Meha, John Parsons, Mary Simpson and Vanessa Burholt) analysed transcripts from interviews and workshops held with 10 unpaid caregivers living in Northern New Zealand. Findings of the study demonstrated a range of experiences. For some unpaid caregivers Covid-19 restrictions provided positive experiences such as a renewed sense of connection to their rural location and the increased feelings of serenity. Other unpaid caregivers found greater challenges that required more complex planning, adaptation measures, and support due to the restrictions. For still others, the loss of vital services was potentially overwhelming. Moreover, some unpaid caregivers travelled the gamut of these experiences. Study results may assist healthcare professionals and policymakers in gaining a better understanding of the reality of unpaid caregiving during the pandemic. The findings may also inform a more refined approach to disaster preparedness in the future.

Read the brilliant new paper here:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/ajr.13173