Linda Clare1,2, Anthony Martyr1, Laura D Gamble3, Claire Pentecost1, Rachel Collins1, Eleanor Dawson1, Anna Hunt1, Sophie Parker1, Louise Allan1, Alistair Burns4, Alexandra Hillman5, Rachael Litherland6, Catherine Quinn7,8, Fiona E Matthews3, Christina Victor9. 1. College of Medicine and Health, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK. 2. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration South-West Peninsula, Exeter, UK. 3. Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK. 4. Institute of Brain, Behaviour and Mental Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK. 5. Department of Public Health Policy and Social Sciences, Swansea University, Swansea, Wales, UK. 6. Innovations in Dementia CIC, Exeter, UK. 7. Centre for Applied Dementia Studies, Bradford University, Bradford, UK. 8. Wolfson Centre for Applied Health Research, Bradford, UK. 9. College of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, Uxbridge, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with dementia have been widely-documented, but most studies have relied on carer reports and few have compared responses to information collected before the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on community-dwelling individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia and compare responses with pre-pandemic data. METHODS: During the second wave of the pandemic, we conducted structured telephone interviews with 173 people with dementia and 242 carers acting as informants, all of whom had previously participated in the IDEAL cohort. Where possible, we benchmarked responses against pre-pandemic data. RESULTS: Significant perceived negative impacts were identified in cognitive and functional skills and ability to engage in self-care and manage everyday activities, along with increased levels of loneliness and discontinuity in sense of self and a decline in perceived capability to 'live well'. Compared to pre-pandemic data, there were lower levels of pain, depression, and anxiety, higher levels of optimism, and better satisfaction with family support. There was little impact on physical health, mood, social connections and relationships, or perceptions of neighborhood characteristics. CONCLUSION: Efforts to mitigate negative impacts of pandemic-related restrictions and restore quality of life could focus on reablement to address the effects on participation in everyday activities, creating opportunities for social contact to reduce loneliness, and personalized planning to reconnect people with their pre-COVID selves. Such efforts may build on the resilience demonstrated by people with dementia and carers in coping with the pandemic.
BACKGROUND: Negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with dementia have been widely-documented, but most studies have relied on carer reports and few have compared responses to information collected before the pandemic. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the impact of the pandemic on community-dwelling individuals with mild-to-moderate dementia and compare responses with pre-pandemic data. METHODS: During the second wave of the pandemic, we conducted structured telephone interviews with 173 people with dementia and 242 carers acting as informants, all of whom had previously participated in the IDEAL cohort. Where possible, we benchmarked responses against pre-pandemic data. RESULTS: Significant perceived negative impacts were identified in cognitive and functional skills and ability to engage in self-care and manage everyday activities, along with increased levels of loneliness and discontinuity in sense of self and a decline in perceived capability to 'live well'. Compared to pre-pandemic data, there were lower levels of pain, depression, and anxiety, higher levels of optimism, and better satisfaction with family support. There was little impact on physical health, mood, social connections and relationships, or perceptions of neighborhood characteristics. CONCLUSION: Efforts to mitigate negative impacts of pandemic-related restrictions and restore quality of life could focus on reablement to address the effects on participation in everyday activities, creating opportunities for social contact to reduce loneliness, and personalized planning to reconnect people with their pre-COVID selves. Such efforts may build on the resilience demonstrated by people with dementia and carers in coping with the pandemic.
Entities:
Keywords:
Alzheimer’s disease; quality of life; services; well-beingzzm321990
Authors: Serena Sabatini; Holly Q Bennett; Anthony Martyr; Rachel Collins; Laura D Gamble; Fiona E Matthews; Claire Pentecost; Eleanor Dawson; Anna Hunt; Sophie Parker; Louise Allan; Alistair Burns; Rachael Litherland; Catherine Quinn; Linda Clare Journal: Front Psychiatry Date: 2022-03-09 Impact factor: 4.157
Authors: Catherine Quinn; Laura D Gamble; Sophie Parker; Anthony Martyr; Rachel Collins; Christina Victor; Eleanor Dawson; Anna Hunt; Claire Pentecost; Louise Allan; Linda Clare Journal: Int J Geriatr Psychiatry Date: 2022-03-24 Impact factor: 3.850
Authors: Claire Pentecost; Rachel Collins; Sally Stapley; Christina Victor; Catherine Quinn; Alexandra Hillman; Rachael Litherland; Louise Allan; Linda Clare Journal: Health Soc Care Community Date: 2022-06-13