Effects of social isolation on a long-term care resident with dementia and depression during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Abby L LeVasseur
PMID 34001377WHAT IT FOUND
One older LTC resident with dementia and depression worsened during COVID isolation despite virtual, telephone, and window visits; her family's in-person visit request was denied.
Key findings
01Despite staff-arranged virtual visits, telephone calls, and window visits, the resident's depression and cognition worsened.
02Her depression screening score increased from 5 (27 possible) to 12 over 4 months, from mild to moderate depression, and her mental status score fell from 11 (15 possible) to 9 then to 0 over 7 months, from mild to severe cognitive impairment.
03The family's request for an exception to the no-visitor policy was denied.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
This is a single case report, so it cannot show that isolation caused the resident's decline. There was no comparison group, so her course cannot be separated from her dementia, depression, strokes, heart failure, dysphagia, and other medical problems. Several treatments were given together, including virtual visits, telephone calls, window visits, medication adjustments, psychotherapy, gabapentin decrease, levothyroxine decrease, and nutritional supplements, so the effect of any one cannot be separated. The authors' recommendations for advanced practice nurses are expert opinion, not tested interventions. The report does not state whether other residents with similar restrictions declined or stayed stable.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that social isolation caused this resident's decline, or that virtual, telephone, and window visits do not work for other residents. This is one case report with no comparison group, and her depression, cognition, and weight changed while several treatments were given together, including medication adjustments, psychotherapy, gabapentin decrease, levothyroxine decrease, and nutritional supplements.