Experiences of Family Caregivers of People with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Melissa L Harris, Marita G Titler
PMID 34713757WHAT IT FOUND
Family caregivers of people with dementia described stress, isolation and relatives' anxiety, anger and agitation as hard to manage.
They used routine, humor, distraction and reorientation at home, but many still found agitation difficult.
Key findings
01Caregivers described loneliness, frustration, stress, fatigue, feeling judged and increased isolation during pandemic restrictions.
02Caregivers described their relatives with dementia as having anxiety, anger, agitation, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, depression and sleep problems, and said anger and agitation were most challenging.
03Caregivers used routine, humor, reorientation, distraction, mindfulness, exercise, pets, CBD oil, reassurance and planned naps, but still found anxiety, anger and agitation hard to manage.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was small and purposive, and most caregivers were female, non-Hispanic white, caring for a spouse and had college education, so experiences of caregivers from other backgrounds may be missing. The study did not explore geographic location, so rural, suburban and urban differences are not known. The interviews happened when vaccines were unavailable and a second surge was in effect, so later pandemic experiences may differ. The study cannot show that dementia symptoms or decline worsened because of COVID-19; it reports caregivers' perceptions. The findings are themes and described strategies, not tested effects, so they cannot say whether any strategy improved outcomes.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that the pandemic caused dementia symptoms to worsen. The study asked caregivers how things changed, and the authors say it cannot tell whether decline actually occurred or was perceived because of more time together and less support.