Background: Social isolation and loneliness are both known to exert detrimental effects on mental health and cognitive functioning, as well as on medial temporal lobe volume in older adults. Reduced social interactions have also been found to increase the risk of cognitive decline and dementia in older people. Since restrictions to social contacts have been imposed to tackle the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, this study aims to investigate the long-term impact of the resulting social isolation on people with mild dementia and their carers. Method: This study has been implemented using a multi-centre longitudinal observational design to monitor mental health (9-item Patient Health Questionnaire and Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire), cognitive performance (telephone Mini-Mental State Examination and Telephone Assessment of Cognitive Function) and quality of life (Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease) of patients with mild dementia due to neurodegenerative aetiologies, as well as carers' burden (12-item Zarit Burden Interview). Additionally, a structured interview is included to assess the potential impact of social isolation on everyday functioning of patients and carers. Participants are assessed telephonically at three time-points: baseline and two follow-ups after 3 and 6 months. Result: Six centres across the UK have confirmed capacity and capability to recruit up to eighty participants. Between September and December 2020, twenty-nine participants have been recruited across different sites and completed the baseline assessment. Moreover, nine participants have already completed the 3-month follow-up.
Conclusion:This study (predicted completion date: July 2021) is expected to provide valuable insights into the potential long-term consequences of lockdown measures on people with dementia and their carers. Moreover, it will enable the identification of potential risk/protective factors for decline in mental health and cognition due to
Background
People with a learning disability can present with complex physical and social needs, and sometimes rely on touch for communication. Historically, touch‐related staff guidance has been described as risk‐averse, lacking an evidence base, control‐orientated and potentially harmful. This project reviews local touch‐related guidance from adult learning disability services, exploring the extent to which they consider the social and communication needs of service users.
Methods
Five touch‐related guidance documents were analysed using a summative content analysis. Counts of relevant search terms were analysed quantitatively. Extracts containing the search terms were then analysed qualitatively, to explore their context.
Findings
Considerable variation was noted between the guidance documents. All the documents discuss communication within the context of touch, although to varying extents. The analysis highlighted a focus on safety and risk within most documents, however, some documents also demonstrated encouragement of positive risk management and the safe use of touch.
Conclusions
While this study has identified several positive aspects of the guidance documents, these helpful recommendations and arguments appear inconsistently within individual documents. Services should work towards developing guidance that consistently considers practical steps to reduce risk and facilitate the safe and effective use of expressive touch cross‐service. Further research into current practice relating to expressive touch is indicated.
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