Worrying and waving: longitudinal study into the consequences of restrictive measures due to COVID-19 for relatives of people with an intellectual disability and their need for support

The corona crisis can threaten the health and well-being of loved ones of people with an intellectual disability. At three points during the pandemic, we asked loved ones how they were doing. At the beginning of the corona crisis, loved ones found it harder to care for their family members, because they had to do it more alone and because daytime activities often stopped. Professional care and daytime activities quickly started again. Relatives felt that the corona pandemic lasted a long time and that the measures changed often. That made it difficult to explain to their relatives with disabilities. Mothers and relatives (often parents) with family members living at home have become particularly tired. In order to recover, it is necessary to listen carefully to what they need in order to find solutions together. We expect that more relatives will be thinking about the future care of their family member.