scholarly journals Beyond the Lockdown Binary: Family Caregiver Needs for Creative Solutions During a Global Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 553-553
Author(s):  
Gwen McGhan ◽  
Deirdre McCaughey ◽  
Whitney Hindmarch ◽  
Kristin Flemons

Abstract As COVID-19 lockdowns began in Canada last spring, family caregivers (FCGs) of people living with dementia (PLWD) found themselves facing a catch-22: they and their family members were often most at risk of severe outcomes should they contract the virus, yet the public health measures put in place also detrimentally affected their ability to continue providing care. To understand the nuances of caregiver experiences during the pandemic, we conducted 9 focus groups with 19 FCGs of PLWD in the Calgary region in summer 2020. Caregivers reported negative outcomes resulting from decreased services for both themselves and the PLWD, including increased isolation, poor mental health, and accelerated dementia progression. Caregivers also emphasized the importance thinking beyond the binary of either locking down or opening up; rather, we must find creative solutions to safely continue providing supports to caregivers. This presentation explores FCG suggestions for balancing COVID-19 risk against caregiver needs.

2020 ◽  
pp. flgastro-2020-101592
Author(s):  
Oliver D Tavabie ◽  
Jennie N Clough ◽  
Jonathan Blackwell ◽  
Maria Bashyam ◽  
Harry Martin ◽  
...  

ObjectiveThe COVID-19 pandemic has placed increased strain on healthcare systems worldwide with enormous reorganisation undertaken to support ‘COVID-centric’ services. Non-COVID-19 admissions reduced secondary to public health measures to halt viral transmission. We aimed to understand the impact of the response to COVID-19 on the outcomes of upper gastrointestinal (UGI) bleeds.Design/methodsA retrospective observational multicentre study comparing outcomes following endoscopy for UGI bleeds from 24 March 2020 to 20 April 2020 to the corresponding dates in 2019. The primary outcome was in-hospital survival at 30 days with secondary outcomes of major rebleeding within 30 days postprocedure and intervention at the time of endoscopy.Results224 endoscopies for 203 patients with UGI bleeds were included within this study. 19 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19. There was a 44.4% reduction in the number of procedures performed between 2019 and 2020. Endoscopies performed for UGI bleeds in the COVID-19 era were associated with an adjusted reduced 30-day survival (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.08–0.67). There was no increased risk of major rebleeding or interventions during this era. Patients with COVID-19 did not have reduced survival or increased complication rates.ConclusionEndoscopy for UGI bleeds in the COVID-19 era is associated with reduced survival. No clear cause has been identified but we suspect that this is a secondary effect of the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Urgent work is required to encourage the public to seek medical help if required and to optimise patient pathways to ensure that the best possible care is provided.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Yue Yu ◽  
Chen Xu ◽  
Hu-Wen Wang ◽  
Rui-Jie Chang ◽  
Yin-Qiao Dong ◽  
...  

Abstract In the past five months, success in control the national epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been witnessed in China. The implementation of public health measures accounts for the success which include different interventions in the early or later stages of the outbreak. It is clear that although not all measures were universally effective worldwide, their achievements have been significant. More solidarity is needed to deal with this global pandemic with more learning and understanding. Understanding which of the public health interventions implemented in China were effective may provide ideas for international epidemic control.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasmin Khajenoori ◽  
Lina Kamil ◽  
Joyita Bhattacharjee ◽  
Ellie Feng ◽  
Sanvi Pal

In response to the spread of COVID-19 in the United States, every state has utilized varying degrees of public health policies yielding different trends in the number of cases. Due to the lack of a unified approach taken in response to the global pandemic in the United States, we can look at the general trends in case numbers from different states in the context of the public health measures that have been implemented. Through the use of multiple databases, we collected data from each states health department websites and policy data came from the COVID-19 US State Policy Database on the CDR, as well as the KFF state policy database in order to graph the number of daily new cases in three different states while marking the dates when the certain policies were implemented. The scope of this particular review focuses on California, New York, and Texas, each of which have taken different approaches and are reflective of three different areas of the continental United States. The four policies that are analyzed include shelter in place orders, mask mandates, the closure and reopening of non-essential businesses, and the closure and reopening of restaurants for in person dining. To further understand the reopening strategies of these three states, we have utilized the “National Coronavirus Response: A Roadmap to Reopening” guide to compare the points at which each state decided to open considering testing capacity, contact tracing, and case numbers/trend in cases at that point in time. Based on this data, we comparatively analyzed trends in cases and policy measures, taking into account other factors like tracing and testing capacity to evaluate the appropriateness of each state’s measures in its overall goal of reopening. Overall, we have found New York which began as the hotspot for COVID-19 cases, to ultimately be the most successful state in regard to reducing the number of daily new cases and surpassing goals for contact tracing and testing. Conversely California, which began as a success story, has seen a sharp rise in cases after moving into phases of reopening. Similarly, Texas has also seen a rise in cases over recent months with the relaxation of public health measures before meeting the markers for reopening. Both California and Texas have been far behind on testing and contact tracing capabilities. Not only abiding by public health policy recommendations but also being consistent with these measures throughout the course of the pandemic are correlated with lower numbers of cases when comparing New York with California and Texas. This finding implies that for future pandemics, and moving forward with the current pandemic, extreme caution should be taken in timing public health measures and tracking cases.


Journal ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma Ford

The Anthropology A-level has achieved a great deal despite its failure to be redeveloped as a qualification. In this article I discuss what this means and why this matters for anthropology education. I show how the Anthropology A level was just one component of a much wider movement to engage new audiences with anthropology. I demonstrate how the A-level brought biological and social anthropology into schools and colleges that had never offered the subject before. The A-level diversified the community of anthropology educators and increased links between local schools, colleges and university anthropology departments. The campaign to widen access to anthropology for students, teachers and the public continues to grow, regardless of the AQA decision.


Author(s):  
Thomas A Lewis

Abstract As a discipline, the academic study of religion is strikingly fragmented, with little engagement or shared criteria of excellence across subfields. Although important recent developments have expanded the traditions and peoples studied as well as the methods used, the current extent of fragmentation limits the impact of this diversification and pluralization. At a moment when the global pandemic is catalyzing profound pressures on our universities and disciplines, this fragmentation makes it difficult to articulate to the public, to non-religious studies colleagues, and to students why the study of religion matters. We therefore too often fall back on platitudes. I argue for a revitalized methods and theories conversation that connects us even as it bears our arguments and disagreements about what we do and how. Courses in methods and theories in the study of religion represent the most viable basis we have for bringing the academic study of religion into the common conversation or argument that constitutes a discipline without sacrificing our pluralism.


2021 ◽  
pp. 002218562110000
Author(s):  
Michele Ford ◽  
Kristy Ward

The labour market effects in Southeast Asia of the COVID-19 pandemic have attracted considerable analysis from both scholars and practitioners. However, much less attention has been paid to the pandemic’s impact on legal protections for workers’ and unions’ rights, or to what might account for divergent outcomes in this respect in economies that share many characteristics, including a strong export orientation in labour-intensive industries and weak industrial relations institutions. Having described the public health measures taken to control the spread of COVID-19 in Indonesia, Cambodia and Vietnam, this article analyses governments’ employment-related responses and their impact on workers and unions in the first year of the pandemic. Based on this analysis, we conclude that the disruption caused to these countries’ economies, and societies, served to reproduce existing patterns of state–labour relations rather than overturning them.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Clarissa Giebel ◽  
Kerry Hanna ◽  
Manoj Rajagopal ◽  
Aravind Komuravelli ◽  
Jacqueline Cannon ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Sudden public health restrictions can be difficult to comprehend for people with cognitive deficits. However, these are even more important for them to adhere to due to their increased levels of vulnerability, particularly to COVID-19. With a lack of previous evidence, we explored the understanding and changes in adherence to COVID-19 public health restrictions over time in people living with dementia (PLWD). Methods Unpaid carers and PLWD were interviewed over the phone in April 2020, shortly after the nationwide UK lockdown, with a proportion followed up from 24th June to 10th July. Participants were recruited via social care and third sector organisations across the UK, and via social media. Findings A total of 70 interviews (50 baseline, 20 follow-up) were completed with unpaid carers and PLWD. Five themes emerged: Confusion and limited comprehension; Frustration and burden; Putting oneself in danger; Adherence to restrictions in wider society; (Un) changed perceptions. Most carers reported limited to no understanding of the public health measures in PLWD, causing distress and frustration for both the carer and the PLWD. Due to the lack of understanding, some PLWD put themselves in dangerous situations without adhering to the restrictions. PLWD with cognitive capacity who participated understood the measures and adhered to these. Discussion In light of the new second wave of the pandemic, public health measures need to be simpler for PLWD to avoid unwilful non-adherence. Society also needs to be more adaptive to the needs of people with cognitive disabilities more widely, as blanket rules cause distress to the lives of those affected by dementia.


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