"Please Don't Forget Us": A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Kathy C Richards, Kavita Radhakrishnan, Katherine Carroll Britt and 4 others
PMID 36113012WHAT IT FOUND
Family caregivers and nurse practitioners described disrupted sleep, nighttime agitation, worsening mood, isolation, and exhaustion in older adults with dementia and themselves.
They asked for more visitation, technology help, education, and support.
Key findings
01Eleven family caregivers and three nurse practitioners described sleep disturbances and nighttime agitation in older adults with dementia, along with related medication and intervention concerns.
02Participants reported emotional, social, and physical strain, including isolation, forgotten feelings, exhaustion, and worsened health.
03Participants recommended education and resources, improved technology, more support, and visitation to reduce pandemic-related impacts.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for RNs
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What it does not show
The sample was a small convenience sample of family caregivers and nurse practitioners from one region, so it may not represent other caregivers. The study was qualitative and based on perceptions, so it cannot show that pandemic restrictions caused the reported changes or that recommended supports would work. The design could not separate changes caused by dementia progression from changes perceived during the pandemic.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflict of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not read these themes as proof that pandemic restrictions caused dementia decline or that visitation, technology, or melatonin improved outcomes. The study was small, qualitative, and based on perceptions, and it did not separate dementia progression from pandemic effects.