Anxiety Over Contracting Disease and Spreading it to Care Recipients Among Highest Concerns
A new report issued by the National Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Family Support at the University of Pittsburgh found that caregivers of individuals with special needs are more likely to experience health and financial difficulties since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh conducted a survey of caregivers from April 15 to May 27 and found that sixty-three percent faced an increase in responsibilities since stay-at-home orders began. More than half reported that caregiving in the time of COVID had become more emotionally challenging, especially due to added stress over potentially contracting the virus and spreading it to their special needs recipient. Greater negative impacts from the pandemic were suffered by female caregivers, caregivers with less education, younger caregivers, caregivers from minority groups, lower-income caregivers, and caregivers who live with individuals with special needs.
