Dataset Information

"A Different Way to Survive": The Experiences of Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

ABSTRACT: Family caregivers of persons living with dementia often experience challenges to their health and quality of life related to their caregiving role. The COVID-19 pandemic added substantially to the responsibilities of family caregivers, potentially putting them at greater risk of poor health outcomes and impeded quality of life. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on the experiences of family caregivers, a multimethods study was conducted. Family caregivers of persons living with dementia were invited to complete a cross-sectional survey and a subset of survey respondents were invited to participate in focus groups for added insight. A total of 161 caregivers responded to the survey and 30 participated in the focus groups. Qualitative data from focus groups were used to elucidate deeper insight into quantitative findings from the survey. Findings reflect that the pandemic affected family caregiver health and wellness, access of care and resources, identity, and resilience.

SUBMITTER: Masoud S

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9272038 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

"A Different Way to Survive": The Experiences of Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Masoud Sara S Glassner Ashlie A AA Mendoza Mayra M Rhodes Shanae S White Carole L CL

Journal of family nursing 20220708 3

Family caregivers of persons living with dementia often experience challenges to their health and quality of life related to their caregiving role. The COVID-19 pandemic added substantially to the responsibilities of family caregivers, potentially putting them at greater risk of poor health outcomes and impeded quality of life. To better understand the impact of the pandemic on the experiences of family caregivers, a multimethods study was conducted. Family caregivers of persons living with deme ...[more]

PMID: 35808849

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Project description:BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has required restrictions of daily activities, which has been found to impact the lives of persons living with dementia (PLWDs) and their family caregivers, who have multiple care demands. The lack of relevant studies in Taiwan emphasized the need to explore the experiences of family caregivers of older PLWDs faced with the intensified restrictions to control the spread of COVID-19, and the impact of the availability of a smart-clothes home nursing program.MethodsThis qualitative study used semi-structured interviews with family caregivers of older PLWDs. Participants were recruited from dementia clinics of a medical center in northern Taiwan from a subset of a sample from a larger study on smart-clothes assisted home nursing care. A total of 12 family caregivers who participated in the original study were interviewed during the follow-up period; seven family caregivers of a PLWD wearing a smart-vest, which transmitted information to a home care nurse; five caregivers of a PLWD not wearing a smart-vest. Interviews were conducted by telephone because the conditions of the pandemic prevented face-to-face interviews. Recorded interviews were transcribed and analyzed using content analysis.ResultsInterview data showed family caregivers' felt the care recipient's health was compromised and functional conditions intensified as Covid-19-related pandemic restrictions increased. Specific concerns included a lack social interactions, decreased daily activity levels, loss of interest and lack of motivation for activities, increased mood and behavioral problems, a decline in physical function and an increase in health problems. Family caregivers were also impacted by these restrictions, with significant increases in severity of caregiver role strain, including feeling trapped, a lack of in-home support, profound powerlessness, and worries about the PLWD contracting the coronavirus. The smart-clothes assisted home nursing care program offered supplementary support to family caregivers by providing on-time interactions, helping them manage health problems, enhancing predictability of the care recipient's behaviors, and providing caregivers with emotional support.ConclusionsThe findings of this study support alternative care such as implementation of technology-assisted home health services to meet caregiver needs to facilitate family caregiving of PLWDs during the necessary restrictions in activities implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic.Trial registrationClinicalTrials.gov Protocol Record NCT05063045.

Dataset Information

"A Different Way to Survive": The Experiences of Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Publications

"A Different Way to Survive": The Experiences of Family Caregivers of Persons Living With Dementia During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Similar Datasets

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