Changes to Care Provisions to Older Adults During Covid-19: Implications for Caregiver Well-Being

Abstract

Among the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic is its impact on caregiving for older adults. Pandemic-related physical distancing policies, avoidance of infection risk, and changing obligations at home and work has caused shifts in care that may not have occurred otherwise. We use nationally representative data on 2,363 caregivers to older family members and friends collected at the height of the pandemic to explore the extent to which family caregivers changed the amount and types of care they provided to a loved one with a disabling condition, and the impact of such changes on caregiver burden and wellbeing. About 41.5% of caregivers who continued to care for someone they helped prior to the pandemic, increased the amount of care provided, while only 7% reduced their intensity of help. Caregiving disruption in the amount of help – both increasing and decreasing care – was significantly associated with increased anxiety, depression, and loneliness of caregivers, but not with self-rated health. These findings persist even after controlling for a variety of sociodemographic, caregiving, and contextual characteristics, and the characteristics of support networks. This work points to an underexplored consequence of the pandemic: the impact on caregiving for older adults and caregiver burden. It will be important to explore the extent to which these effects persist as the pandemic runs its course.

2024 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures

“…[655][656][657][658][659][660][661][662][663][664][665] Fatigue and burnout among dementia caregivers and their lack of access to services and supports for themselves and for the people for whom they provide care are common themes in research on the wide-ranging effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 666 For these reasons, the pandemic has created a crisis for dementia caregivers. 655,667,668 Telephone interviews with family caregivers in rural Virginia following the governor's stay-at-home order in 2020 found that those who were more concerned about the COVID-19 pandemic and those who received less help from family and friends experienced greater feelings of emotional exhaustion and fatigue related to dementia care.…”

“…Existing reports indicate that the COVID‐19 pandemic has posed significant social, psychological, emotional and physical challenges to family members and friends who provide care for people with dementia 655–665 . Fatigue and burnout among dementia caregivers and their lack of access to services and supports for themselves and for the people for whom they provide care are common themes in research on the wide‐ranging effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic 666 . For these reasons, the pandemic has created a crisis for dementia caregivers 655,667,668 …”

“… 655 , 656 , 657 , 658 , 659 , 660 , 661 , 662 , 663 , 664 , 665 Fatigue and burnout among dementia caregivers and their lack of access to services and supports for themselves and for the people for whom they provide care are common themes in research on the wide‐ranging effects of the COVID‐19 pandemic. 666 For these reasons, the pandemic has created a crisis for dementia caregivers. 655 , 667 , 668 …”