CDCOAURVRIIINDN-GG19 Dr Christine McGarrigle is an Epidemiology Senior Research Fellow at The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA), Trinity College Dublin. Surveyed 4,000 15% of older population now caring for someone - more than double the proportion who report caring in 2018 (6%) 11% decrease in care provided to children and grandchildren 23% women and 16% men who live in Dublin report they had cared for someone during the pandemic, compared to 15% women and 12% men who live in a rural area Amongst carers aged 60-69 years, 27% of women and 25% of men cared for 50+ hours in one week Amongst carers aged 70 years and older: 36% of women and 41% of men cared for 50+ hours in the one week TThe initial public health response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Ireland recommended that older people aged 70 years and upwards remain at home, and physically isolate from those outside their household as much as possible. The Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing (TILDA) surveyed 4,000 existing TILDA participants between July and November 2020, asking them about their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. The study has shown that the older population in Ireland contribute substantially to the informal care of their family and friends. Generally, family caring was associated with better wellbeing and functional health. However, those caring for more than 50 hours a week had worse health. This supports previous research which showed that carers are healthier and demonstrate better mood than non-carers, and that low intensity caring is associated with better mental and physical health and a variety of positive gains from providing care and support for loved ones. There is strong evidence supporting the health benefits of remaining physically and socially active, which caring at lower numbers of hours may facilitate. Our findings We found that 15% of the older population report caring for someone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for further information about TILDA and our reports Read more.
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