Delirium Secondary to Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Case Series

Abstract

URCS) was negatively correlated with depression(rZ-0.39), anxiety(rZ-0.37), maladaptive alcohol use(rZ-0.31) and caregiver burden(rZ-.41), but not correlated with positive aspects of caregiving(rZ0.16). The 26 care partners included 22 spouses, 2 parents, and 2 children of care recipients. Adult children care partners reported the lowest perceived relationship closeness(median of 5.96[range:3.42-6.92]) compared to care partners who are spouses(median of 5.17[range:4.67-5.67]) or parents(median of 2.92 [2.08-3.75]). Relationship closeness may be dependent on the relationship of care partners to their care recipients. Conclusions: In this study, the closer the care partners viewed their relationship with their care recipient to be, the lower the depressive symptoms, general anxiety symptoms, maladaptive alcohol use, and caregiver burden they endorsed. Of the different types of relationships, children of care recipients reported the lowest relationship closeness. This may be the result of being "sandwiched" between the demands of caring for their older parents and their own children. Future work should explore care partners' feelings of obligation versus choice in their caregiving role and care partners' ability to balance other life roles demands with caregiving responsibilities.