Impact of living with Long COVID
Many individuals with long COVID have seen a dramatic reduction in their day-to-day function due to their symptoms. The majority of individuals developing long COVID are of working age, and symptoms can significantly impact the ability to remain in or return to work. Many individuals also struggle to fulfill their usual social roles, e.g., parent, family member, or caregiver. While the severity of symptoms varies, a recent ONS report concluded:
- 73% (1.6 million) of those with self-reported long COVID said their symptoms adversely affected their day-to-day activities
- 17% (370,000) reported that their ability to undertake their day-to-day activities had been “limited a lot.”
This has significant consequences for the economy as a whole.
Learning outcomes
On completion of this learning bite, you will be able to:
- Better understand the impact of long COVID from a lived experience perspective.
- Demonstrate an awareness of helpful resources and organisations you can signpost individuals to for further support.
Learning activity
Please watch this video created by the Department of Health and Social Care: Long COVID: Hands.Face.Space. To help you understand the impact of long COVID for those living with the condition.
Follow the link below to take you to a programme commissioned by the Joint Programme for Patient, Care and Public Involvement in COVID Recovery, which is a partnership between Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust (GSTT) including Evelina London Children's Hospital and Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals (RBH) and King's College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (KCH). It is funded, over two years, by Guy’s & St Thomas’ Charity and King’s College Hospital Charity to ensure the involvement of patients, carers and the public in ongoing changes and the development of services necessitated by the COVID pandemic. This has some helpful infographics, a video and a poem all co-produced with those with lived experience, to help others understand the impact of living with long COVID. Access via the link below:
Additional resources
Chest, Heart and Stroke Scotland (CHSS) have been funded by the Scottish Government to provide support services for those affected by long COVID. This includes a nurse advice line, online peer support groups and exercises classes as well as a number of helpful information booklets both online and in print form.
British Heart Foundation also have helpful patient information on their website which includes some patient stories explaining individual experiences of living with long COVID
Long Covid Scotland is a volunteer-led charity run by people living with Long Covid on behalf of those living with Long Covid. Long Covid Scotland advocate for rehab, research and recognition for people living in Scotland.
Long COVID Physio – A website for everybody living with long COVID and wanting to know more.