TY - JOUR
T1 - Impact of Social Isolation on People with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers
AU - Azevedo, Lílian Viana Dos Santos
AU - Calandri, Ismael Luis
AU - Slachevsky, Andrea
AU - Graviotto, Héctor Gastón
AU - Vieira, Maria Carolina Santos
AU - Andrade, Caíssa Bezerra De
AU - Rossetti, Adriana Peredo
AU - Generoso, Alana Barroso
AU - Carmona, Karoline Carvalho
AU - Pinto, Ludmilla Aparecida Cardoso
AU - Sorbara, Marcos
AU - Pinto, Alejandra
AU - Guajardo, Tania
AU - Olavarria, Loreto
AU - Thumala, Daniela
AU - Crivelli, Luciá
AU - Vivas, Ludmila
AU - Allegri, Ricardo Francisco
AU - Barbosa, Maira Tonidandel
AU - Serrano, Cecilia M.
AU - Miranda-Castillo, Claudia
AU - Caramelli, Paulo
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021-IOS Press. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Background: People with dementia and their family caregivers may face a great burden through social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be manifested as various behavioral and clinical symptoms. Objective: To investigate the impacts of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with dementia and their family caregivers. Methods: Two semi-structured questionnaires were applied via telephone to family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia in three cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, in order to assess clinical and behavioral changes in people with dementia and in their caregivers. Results: In general, 321 interviews were conducted. A significant decline in memory function has been reported among 53.0%of people with dementia. In addition, 31.2%of individuals with dementia felt sadder and 37.4%had increased anxiety symptoms. These symptoms of anxiety were greater in individuals with mild to moderate dementia, while symptoms of agitation were greater in individuals with severe dementia. Moreover, compulsive-obsessive behavior, hallucinations, increased forgetfulness, altered appetite, and increased difficulty in activities of daily living were reported more frequently among individuals with moderate to severe dementia. Caregivers reported feeling more tired and overwhelmed during this period and these symptoms were also influenced by the severity of dementia. Conclusion: Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a series of negative behavioral repercussions, both for people with dementia and for their family caregivers in these three South American countries.
AB - Background: People with dementia and their family caregivers may face a great burden through social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be manifested as various behavioral and clinical symptoms. Objective: To investigate the impacts of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with dementia and their family caregivers. Methods: Two semi-structured questionnaires were applied via telephone to family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia in three cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, in order to assess clinical and behavioral changes in people with dementia and in their caregivers. Results: In general, 321 interviews were conducted. A significant decline in memory function has been reported among 53.0%of people with dementia. In addition, 31.2%of individuals with dementia felt sadder and 37.4%had increased anxiety symptoms. These symptoms of anxiety were greater in individuals with mild to moderate dementia, while symptoms of agitation were greater in individuals with severe dementia. Moreover, compulsive-obsessive behavior, hallucinations, increased forgetfulness, altered appetite, and increased difficulty in activities of daily living were reported more frequently among individuals with moderate to severe dementia. Caregivers reported feeling more tired and overwhelmed during this period and these symptoms were also influenced by the severity of dementia. Conclusion: Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a series of negative behavioral repercussions, both for people with dementia and for their family caregivers in these three South American countries.
KW - Behavioral symptoms
KW - caregiver
KW - COVID-19
KW - dementia
KW - social isolation
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85106913753&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3233/jad-201580
DO - 10.3233/jad-201580
M3 - Article
C2 - 33814446
AN - SCOPUS:85106913753
SN - 1387-2877
VL - 81
SP - 607
EP - 617
JO - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
JF - Journal of Alzheimer's Disease
IS - 2
ER -