Trends in Health Service Use for Canadian Adults With Dementia and Parkinson Disease During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Bronskill, Susan E.; Maclagan, Laura C.; Maxwell, Colleen J.; Iaboni, Andrea; Jaakkimainen, R. Liisa; Marras, Connie; Wang, Xuesong; Guan, Jun; Harris, Daniel A.; Emdin, Abby; Jones, Aaron; Sourial, Nadia; Godard‐Sebillotte, Claire; Vedel, Isabelle; Austin, Peter C.; Swartz, Richard H.

doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2021.4599

Cited by 19 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Related work from our group has documented the rapid shift to virtual family physician care among people with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic. 23 Although virtual care provides benefits to patients with dementia including convenience, there are challenges with conducting cognitive assessments virtually that may necessitate in-person care. 5 It is difficult to determine to what extent visits to the emergency department may have been avoided by seeking virtual care from primary care and other providers.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Visits to the emergency department by community-dwelling people with dementia during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario: a repeated cross-sectional analysis

Maclagan

Wang

Emdin

et al. 2022

cmajo

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People with dementia are susceptible to adverse events associated with disruptions in health care and social supports caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. [1][2][3] Before the pandemic, research had shown that care fragmentation and lower continuity of care were associated with increased risks of visits to the emergency department by people with dementia. 4 People with dementia frequently visit the emergency department for care, often to address concerns such as injuries, behavioural changes and other symptoms of dementia, adverse drug reactions and for caregiver reassurance. Although many physicians shifted to virtual care provision during the COVID-19 pandemic to enable continuity of care, people with dementia faced challenges accessing such care, including lack of access to technology or a support person to assist them. 5,6 In addition, there are concerns that the social isolation and cancellation of health and social services that resulted from pandemic restrictions have worsened behavioural and psychological symptoms for people with dementia, which may necessitate appropriate access to inperson health care services. 1 The emergency department is an important care setting for persons with dementia; 7 however, there are little data regarding changes in rates of visits to the emergency department among people with dementia during the COVID-19

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…1, 2020 to Feb. 21, 2021) compared with equivalent weeks during the historical period (Mar. 3, 2019 to Feb 23,. 2020).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Visits to the emergency department by community-dwelling people with dementia during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario: a repeated cross-sectional analysis

Maclagan

Wang

Emdin

et al. 2022

cmajo

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“…This finding among older adults is in keeping with research showing relatively high visit rates for people living with Parkinson's disease and dementia. 93 The initial drop in in-person visits and pivot to virtual care was a global One reason for reduced visit volumes was patients themselves deferring care. In one survey, almost one-third of patients reported delaying seeking care during the first few months of the pandemic.…”

Section: Responding To Shifting Priorities Through Changes In Volume ...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Overall primary care visit volumes for older adults with dementia or Parkinson's disease had rebounded by the end of the first wave, with the majority of care delivered virtually. 93 However, preliminary findings demonstrated a significant reduction in dementia diagnosis, triggering important questions about the appropriateness of virtual visits for older adults with complex needs. 108 Finally, the pandemic has seen a rise in mental health concerns and substance use, including increases in self-reported symptoms of depression, anxiety, and increased use of substances (smoking, alcohol, and non-prescription opioid use).…”

Section: Providing Preventive Carementioning

confidence: 99%

Brief on Primary Care Part 1: The Roles of Primary Care Clinicians and Practices in the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario

Kiran¹,

Eissa²,

Mangin³

et al. 2022

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About Us: The Ontario COVID-19 Science Advisory Table is a group of scientific experts and health system leaders who evaluate and report on emerging evidence relevant to the COVID-19 pandemic, to inform Ontario's response. The Science Advisory Table's mandate is to provide summaries of relevant scientific evidence to public health and health care professionals, as well as the general public, by integrating information from existing scientific tables, Ontario's universities and agencies, and the best global evidence. The Science Advisory Table is hosted by Public Health Ontario (PHO). Aligned with PHO's mandate, the Science Advisory Table provides credible and independent scientific and technical advice to inform government and the broader public about COVID-19 and to help prepare for and respond to future public health emergencies.

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“…More specifically, research-based evidence is needed to inform COVID-19 policies to help mitigate the impact of the pandemic on people with dementia and their family care partners. However, new publications on dementia continue to report findings primarily based on the early stages of the pandemic with little knowledge of the COVID-19 barriers over time [ 5 , 9 , 14 , 15 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on People With Dementia From the Perspective of Family and Friends: Thematic Analysis of Tweets

Bacsu¹,

O’Connell²,

Cammer³

et al. 2022

JMIR Aging

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Background The COVID-19 pandemic is taking a serious toll on people with dementia. Given the rapidly evolving COVID-19 context, policymakers and practitioners require timely, evidence-informed research to address the changing needs and challenges of people with dementia and their family care partners. Objective Using Twitter data, the objective of this study was to examine the COVID-19 impact on people with dementia from the perspective of their family members and friends. Methods Using the Twint application in Python, we collected 6243 relevant tweets over a 15-month time frame. The tweets were divided among 11 coders and analyzed using a 6-step thematic analysis process. Results Based on our analysis, 3 main themes were identified: (1) frustration and structural inequities (eg, denied dignity and inadequate supports), (2) despair due to loss (eg, isolation, decline, and death), and (3) resiliency, survival, and hope for the future. Conclusions As the COVID-19 pandemic persists and new variants emerge, people with dementia and their family care partners are facing complex challenges that require timely interventions. More specifically, tackling COVID-19 challenges requires revisiting pandemic policies and protocols to ensure equitable access to health and support services, recognizing the essential role of family care partners, and providing financial assistance and resources to help support people with dementia in the pandemic. Revaluating COVID-19 policies is critical to mitigating the pandemic’s impact on people with dementia and their family care partners.

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Trends in Health Service Use for Canadian Adults With Dementia and Parkinson Disease During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Cited by 19 publications

References 48 publications

Visits to the emergency department by community-dwelling people with dementia during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario: a repeated cross-sectional analysis

Visits to the emergency department by community-dwelling people with dementia during the first 2 waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in Ontario: a repeated cross-sectional analysis

Brief on Primary Care Part 1: The Roles of Primary Care Clinicians and Practices in the First Two Years of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Ontario

Examining the Impact of COVID-19 on People With Dementia From the Perspective of Family and Friends: Thematic Analysis of Tweets

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