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"Please Don't Forget Us" A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

"Please Don't Forget Us" A Descriptive Qualitative Study of Caregivers of Older Adults With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Kathy C. Richards, Kavita Radhakrishnan, Katherine Carroll Britt, Andrea Vanags-Louredo, Eunice Park, Nalaka S. Gooneratne and Liam Fry
Research in gerontological nursing, Vol.15(5), pp.217-228
09/01/2022
DOI: 10.3928/19404921-20220829-01
PMCID: PMC10187068
PMID: 36113012
url
https://doi.org/10.3928/19404921-20220829-01View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

The current descriptive qualitative study explored the perceived impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on sleep disturbances and nighttime agitation; the reported use of antipsychotics and other sedating medications; and the overall well-being of older adults with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) and their caregivers. One investigator conducted in-depth, phone interviews with caregivers of nursing home residents with ADRD (four family caregivers [FCs], three nurse practitioners [NPs]) and seven FCs of older adults with ADRD who lived with them at home. Caregivers described multiple sleep disturbances. Nighttime agitation symptoms were perceived to continue or worsen, and sedating medications and nonpharmacological interventions were required. Adverse impacts on reported wellbeing were significant, and impacts were grouped into emotional, social, and physical themes. Caregivers said, "Please don't forget us," and requested telehealth support for those at home and technology and human resources for nursing homes to reduce adverse impacts.
Life Sciences & Biomedicine Nursing Science & Technology

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