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Dementia Care in Times of COVID-19

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A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Health Care Sciences & Services".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 September 2022) | Viewed by 10007

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Special Issue Editor

Dr. Clarissa Giebel

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Guest Editor

1. Department of Primary Care & Mental Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3BX, UK
2. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration North West Coast, Liverpool L69 3GL, UK
Interests: dementia; inequalities; activities of daily living; social care

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The pandemic has and continues to have a great impact on people’s lives, particularly the most vulnerable members of our societies. These include people living with dementia and their unpaid carers, who have been affected negatively by the imposed public health restrictions, the sudden lack of face-to-face social care, and care home closures. Slowly coming up to the 2-year mark of the pandemic, I am inviting you to submit your novel research regarding ‘Dementia Care in Time of COVID-19’. This can include community- and long-term care settings and can focus on people receiving care and on those providing it (in a paid or unpaid capacity). Studies can be of qualitative or quantitative nature. I am particularly welcoming coproduced research with people living with dementia and unpaid carers. I look forward to reading your submissions.

Dr. Clarissa Giebel
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2500 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

dementia
care
social care
care homes
unpaid carers

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

11 pages, 610 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Resilience in UK-Based Domiciliary Care Workers before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Warren James Donnellan, Annalise Hirons, Katie Clarke, Christian Muinos and Laura McCabe

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(23), 16128; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192316128 - 2 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1624

Abstract

Domiciliary carers (DCs) provide an invaluable service that enables people living with dementia (PLWD) to remain living in their own homes for as long as possible. We know a lot about the negative impacts of providing domiciliary care and recent evidence suggests that this was exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, we know much less about how these DCs manage the stressors associated with their roles. The current study adopts a resilience perspective to identify the resources that DCs caring for PLWD draw on to manage the stress associated with their roles before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 19 DCs from across the UK. Data were analysed using a directed qualitative content analysis. Themes included: healthy boundaries; motivation to care; psychological attributes; managing work; and support. The findings have implications for employers and may go some way towards improving DC working conditions, retaining staff, and attracting new DCs in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia Care in Times of COVID-19)

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11 pages, 716 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Factors Associated with Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia during COVID-19

by Yujiro Kuroda, Taiki Sugimoto, Kenichi Satoh, Claudia K. Suemoto, Nanae Matsumoto, Kazuaki Uchida, Yoshinobu Kishino and Takashi Sakurai

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(16), 10094; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191610094 - 15 Aug 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1876

Abstract

(1) Background: Preventive measures to control the spread of COVID-19 are essential, but they often cause social isolation and diminish the physical and mental health of older adults. In cognitively impaired individuals, the pandemic has worsened behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Here, we explored the factors contributing to the worsening of BPSD during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: Potential patients were identified at a memory clinic in Japan between June 2017 and June 2021. Eligible patients had a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia during the study period. The outcome was BPSD, as assessed by using the Dementia Behavioral Disorders Scale. Information on patients’ lifestyle habits and use of care services was obtained for use as primary explanatory variables; multiple regression analysis was performed to examine the relationship between BPSD and care services use or lifestyle habits. The model was adjusted for sociodemographic factors, and the interaction terms of the pandemic period with lifestyle and service use were included to evaluate the effects of COVID-19. (3) Results: We identified 977 participants with MCI and 1380 with dementia (MCI group: 69.8% age 75 years or older, 54.2% female; dementia group: 79.8% age 75 years or older, 64.8% female). After adjustment for possible confounders, significantly worse BPSD was demonstrated in those who used daycare services during COVID-19 (both MCI and dementia patients; p = 0.007 and p = 0.025 respectively) and in those with poor nutritional function (dementia patients; p = 0.040). (4) Conclusions and Implications: During COVID-19, poor nutritional status and use of daycare services were associated with BPSD in those with cognitive decline. These findings indicate the need to fully examine the quantity and quality of care services for people with cognitive decline during emergencies and to continue to provide effective services. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia Care in Times of COVID-19)

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11 pages, 342 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Developing a Meaningful Garden Space in a Care Home with Staff and Family Members: A Qualitative Study

by Clarissa Giebel, Bram de Boer, Mark Gabbay, Caroline Watkins, Neil Wilson, Hilary Tetlow and Hilde Verbeek

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(12), 7025; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19127025 - 8 Jun 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2116

Abstract

Background: Care home residents are often passive and lack active engagement in meaningful activities. The aim of this qualitative study was to co-develop a plan for a meaningful garden space in an urban care home in the north of England, to inform the subsequent building of such a garden space on the care home premises. Methods: Members of staff participated in focus groups conducted at the care home. Family carers were interviewed by telephone. Both focus groups and interviews were audio-recorded, with transcripts analysed independently using thematic analysis by two researchers, and consensus achieved on final themes. Findings: Two focus groups with staff (n = 17) and seven interviews with family carers were held. Thematic analysis generated seven key themes for the garden about its meaning and environmental features: (1) Current opinions on physical environment; (2) access; (3) adaptation to the environment; (4) staffing; (5) socialising; (6) sensory features; and (7) active meaningful participation. The garden needed to be accessible to residents in wheelchairs, and in all weathers and seasonal conditions, as well as being adapted to the needs of people living with dementia. Areas for social activities, such as picnics, and intergenerational activities, as well as private spaces, were recommended. Throughout the garden, sensory features were suggested, incorporating the use of vision, smell, touch, and sound, such as through water features. Moreover, it was recommended that residents should be able to contribute to the delivery of the activities themselves, including through a café and a vegetable garden. Conclusions: Family carers and staff considered that the garden would benefit from an intensive update to meet the needs of residents. This study therefore has practical implications for care home design, which are of even greater importance since the pandemic, as outdoor spaces were considered safer for care home visiting. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia Care in Times of COVID-19)

15 pages, 527 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Social Health among German Nursing Home Residents with Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic, and the Role of Technology to Promote Social Participation

by Viktoria Hoel, Kathrin Seibert, Dominik Domhoff, Benedikt Preuß, Franziska Heinze, Heinz Rothgang and Karin Wolf-Ostermann

Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022, 19(4), 1956; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19041956 - 10 Feb 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3038

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted the social health of nursing home residents with dementia due to social isolation. Consequently, the frequency of Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia (BPSD) might increase. Technological solutions might help safeguard the social health of nursing home residents with dementia. This study investigates the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on clinical outcomes and the availability of social activities and technology to promote social participation in nursing home residents with dementia. The study analyzed cross-sectional data from a follow-up questionnaire nested in a larger national survey of care facilities in Germany. A mixed-methods approach integrated statistical analyses of closed-ended responses and thematic analysis of free-text responses. A total of 417 valid individual responses were received, showing an overall increase in observed BPSD—with anxiety and depression most frequently occurring. Many nursing homes canceled all social activities for residents with dementia, though a few had established procedures to facilitate social participation using technology. Requirements to promote social participation in this population using technology were identified at the micro-, meso-, and macro levels. Technology requirements permeated all three levels. During and beyond the COVID-19 pandemic, technology-driven solutions to promote social health among nursing home residents with dementia should be integrated into caregiving procedures. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia Care in Times of COVID-19)

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