Changes in Elder Abuse Risk Factors Reported by Caregivers of Older Adults during the COVID‐19 Pandemic

Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on family carers in the community: A scoping review

“…Study findings indicated that carers’ psychological wellbeing deteriorated during the pandemic. Frequently cited psychological concerns included fear (Carballo et al., 2021; Cohen et al., 2020; D’herde et al., 2021; Fisher et al., 2021; Ng et al., 2020; Simblett et al., 2021; West et al., 2021), depression (Altieri & Santangelo, 2020; Giebel et al., 2021; Li et al., 2021; Pongan et al., 2021; Rainero et al., 2021), anxiety (Borelli et al., 2021; Carcavilla et al., 2021; Consonni et al., 2021; Giebel et al., 2021; Hwang et al., 2021; Li et al., 2021; Ng et al., 2020; Pongan et al., 2021; Rainero et al., 2021; Salari et al., 2020; West et al., 2021; Zucca et al., 2021), stress/distress (Alexopoulos et al., 2021; Carballo et al., 2021; Cohen et al., 2020; Dhavale et al., 2020; Fisher et al., 2021; Longacre et al., 2021; Rainero et al., 2021; Rusowicz et al., 2021; Tam et al., 2021; Zucca et al., 2021), sleep disturbances (Azevedo et al., 2021; Carcavilla et al., 2021; Li et al., 2021) and dietary issues (Borelli et al., 2021; Carcavilla et al., 2021; Li et al., 2021; Makaroun et al., 2021; West et al., 2021). Increased psychological burdens were often linked to a reduction in support (Budnick et al., 2021; Lee et al., 2021; Macchi et al., 2021; Tsapanou et al., 2021), or a deterioration in the care recipient's health (Borelli et al., 2021; Yasuma et al., 2021).…”

“…Carers in Prasad's (2020) study reported a significant increase (6% vs. 18%, p = 0.01) in problems faced due to COVID‐19 restrictions, with the inability to access a healthcare facility and difficulty procuring medication as the main inconveniences. Other concerns across the studies included fear of spreading disease (Cohen et al., 2020; Hwang et al., 2021; Vaitheswaran et al., 2020), COVID‐19 related risk management (Tuijt et al., 2021; Vaitheswaran et al., 2020), struggling to access basic necessities (Giebel et al., 2021), treatment disruptions and delays in seeking help (Chia et al., 2021; Werner et al., 2021), exclusion from remote meetings regarding the care recipient (Liberati et al., 2021), family members dying alone (Ng et al., 2020), dealing with changes to routine, managing daily household chores and supplies (Vaitheswaran et al., 2020) and disruption of work and financial concerns (Amaniera et al., 2021; Giebel et al., 2021; Longacre et al., 2021; Makaroun et al., 2021; Vaitheswaran et al., 2020), more so due to the pandemic.…”

“…Despite their greater mental health needs, carers of those with intellectual disabilities received less social support (Willner et al., 2020). As a result of the reduced support measures, carers reported feeling socially isolated and lonely (Amaniera et al., 2021; Azevedo et al., 2021; Carbone et al., 2021; Fisher et al., 2021; Makaroun et al., 2021; Tam et al., 2021; West et al., 2021).…”

Implicit and explicit dehumanization of older family members: Novel determinants of elder abuse proclivity.

“…For instance, a clinically based study of family caregivers showed that the self-reported abuse perpetration prevalence was 47.3% (Wiglesworth et al, 2010). The higher prevalence in our study may be due to the exacerbating risk factors for perpetration during the ongoing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic (Makaroun et al, 2021).…”

Ageism and the State of Older People With Mental Conditions During the Pandemic and Beyond: Manifestations, Etiology, Consequences, and Future Directions

“…18 Another area of concern is increased rates of elder abuse and neglect. 39,40 This has been attributed to the solitary confinement imposed on many older people in care, which allowed for abuse to occur behind closed doors and added to the high levels of stress brought on by the pandemic. Elder neglect has also been intensified by the fact that all non-emergencyrelated care was discontinued in the early stages of the pandemic.…”