"Everything is a Mess. I'm Just Trying to Survive It.": Impacts of COVID-19 on Personal Assistance Services

Sage, Rayna; Standley, Krys; Ipsen, Catherine

doi:10.1353/hpu.2022.0141

Cited by 7 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…These concerns are reflected internationally. For instance, the work of Sage et al [ 38 ] in the United States on the impact of Covid-19 on PA employers and their unmet needs (although not looking directly at PAs) presents a parallel picture of dwindling recruitment within the PA workforce since Covid-19 and similarly notes low wages, high stress, and Covid-19-related fears as key factors. Similarly, in Ireland home care workers experienced similar problems to their English counterparts in terms of access problems to PPE and greater exposure to Covid-19 [ 39 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘You’re out on a limb, on your own’: Social care personal assistants’ (PAs’) reflections on working in the Covid-19 pandemic ‐ implications for wider health and care services

Norrie,

Luijnenburg,

Moriarty

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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Context In England, Personal Assistants (PAs) are part of an international trend towards state funded but client-hired or directly employed care workers. The Covid-19 pandemic highlighted and exacerbated pre-existing risks and advantages of this arrangement for both PAs and people with care and support needs. Objectives We aim to report PAs’ reflections on their experiences of working since the pandemic started in 2020 and highlight the longer-term implications for health and care services. Methods We undertook a large-scale, qualitative study in 2016–17 involving interviews with 104 PAs about their working lives. We re-interviewed PAs from this group twice to ask how the pandemic had affected them, once at the start of the pandemic in Spring 2020 and again in December 2021 –April 2022. This article reports findings from the last set of interviews undertaken with 38 PAs. Thematic analysis was conducted of interviews in which PAs discussed changes in tasks and responsibilities, pay and conditions, training, relationships and plans. Findings This article focuses on the following themes: PAs’ perceptions of their outsider status; support and training needs; job security; and whether PAs have an appetite for regulation to provide greater professional standing and connections. Limitations Interviews in this study were carried out during the Covid-19 pandemic over the telephone or virtually rather than in person so may have missed certain body language or informal relationship building. The sample may be under-representative of non-British PAs. We were unable to triangulate participants’ accounts with others’. Implications This study highlights the importance of national and local government including the PA workforce in planning for national emergencies. Consideration should be given by policy makers and local health and care systems to how PAs can be better supported than currently.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘You’re out on a limb, on your own’: Social care personal assistants’ (PAs’) reflections on working in the Covid-19 pandemic ‐ implications for wider health and care services

Norrie,

Luijnenburg,

Moriarty

et al. 2023

PLoS ONE

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“…However, during the pandemic, PWD may have needed more help from personal attendants to facilitate safety practices and social distancing ( 28 ). Difficulty finding and keeping reliable workers led to unmet care needs, negatively affecting both physical and mental health ( 5 , 25 , 29 , 30 ). Additionally, PAS workforce shortages made it difficult for PWD to enforce their preferred COVID-19 safety practices when having to choose between risky care or no care at all ( 5 ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Navigating new normals: the influence of COVID-19 policies on community access and well-being of people with mobility disabilities in everyday life

Wendel,

Gray,

Goddard

et al. 2024

Front. Public Health

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ContextThis study explores the influence of COVID-19 public health mandates on people with mobility disabilities in the United States in their everyday lives. It highlights the intersection of disability with social determinants of health, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive policy response.MethodsQualitative data were collected through 76 semi-structured interviews with people with mobility disabilities. Interviews focused on experiences with COVID-19 mandates and community access, analyzed using thematic analysis and coded for emergent subthemes.ResultsThe relationship between community participation and COVID-19 compliance was complex for people with disabilities. Inaccessible environments and inflexible policies made it difficult for people with disabilities to practice good safety measures, while widespread noncompliance by community members limited their community participation. The findings revealed additional mixed lived experiences of COVID-19 policies on community participation, accessibility, and access to resources and support. While technology facilitated some aspects of community participation, issues with accessibility, public transportation, and personal assistance services were exacerbated.ConclusionCOVID-19 policies have complex implications for people with mobility disabilities. Findings suggest a need for inclusive policymaking, improved disability awareness, and continued support for accessible technology and services. Future research should further explore these dynamics to inform policy and practice.

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Linking community participation, mobility disabilities, and the COVID-19 pandemic

Ayers,

Hall,

Burdick

2024

Linking Neuroscience and Behavior in COVID-19

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"Everything is a Mess. I'm Just Trying to Survive It.": Impacts of COVID-19 on Personal Assistance Services

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

‘You’re out on a limb, on your own’: Social care personal assistants’ (PAs’) reflections on working in the Covid-19 pandemic ‐ implications for wider health and care services

‘You’re out on a limb, on your own’: Social care personal assistants’ (PAs’) reflections on working in the Covid-19 pandemic ‐ implications for wider health and care services

Navigating new normals: the influence of COVID-19 policies on community access and well-being of people with mobility disabilities in everyday life

Linking community participation, mobility disabilities, and the COVID-19 pandemic

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