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Changes to Family Caregiving of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities During COVID-19

Overview
Journal Gerontol Geriatr Med
Specialty Geriatrics
Date 2021 Apr 5
PMID 33816706
Citations 18
Authors
Elizabeth Lightfoot
Heejung Yun
Rajean Moone
Jacob Otis
Kamal Suleiman
Kenneth Turck
Courtney Kutzler
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

The strict restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the lives of many at-risk people and their family caregivers. This study explored how family caregivers perceived that family caregiving had changed during COVID-19 and the strategies they used to cope with these changes. We conducted 52 semi-structured interviews with family caregivers of adults over age 65 or adults with disabilities and analyzed the data through an inductive thematic analysis. Caregivers perceived the largest COVID-19-related caregiving changes to be limited social and physical contacts, changed caregiving tasks, reduced services and supports, and a new focus on vigilance and safety. Caregivers made numerous changes to caregiving, including keeping connected, keeping relatives occupied, getting support and services in new ways, and reducing caregiver stress.

Citing Articles

Strategies and sacrifices of family caregiving in the Somali-American community: a qualitative study.

Suleiman K, Lightfoot E, Moone R BMC Health Serv Res. 2024; 24(1):1186.

PMID: 39367423 PMC: 11453006. DOI: 10.1186/s12913-024-11543-6.

Increased Care Provision and Caregiver Wellbeing: Moderation by Changes in Social Network Care Provision.

Kirkegaard A, Friedman E, Edgington S, Kennedy D J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci. 2024; 79(5).

PMID: 38364364 PMC: 10997277. DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbae015.

Perceived loss of support to community caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Kennedy D, Friedman E, Kirkegaard A, Edgington S, Shih R J Community Psychol. 2024; 52(3):475-497.

PMID: 38329412 PMC: 10977083. DOI: 10.1002/jcop.23107.

Physical and mental health of informal caregivers before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Ngamasana E, Zarwell M, Gunn L BMC Public Health. 2023; 23(1):2349.

PMID: 38012592 PMC: 10683238. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-17164-8.

Change in Caregiving to Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Differences by Dementia Status.

Friedman E, Kirkegaard A, Kennedy D, Edgington S, Shih R J Appl Gerontol. 2023; 42(12):2277-2282.

PMID: 37683281 PMC: 10840888. DOI: 10.1177/07334648231197514.

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