scholarly journals A mirror image: experiences of informal carers caring for frail, older persons at risk from falling

2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 64-68
Author(s):  
Carolyn Lees ◽  
Thomas O'Brien ◽  
Constantinos Maganaris
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Mirror Image ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Anxiety And Depression ◽  
Informal Carer ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Informal Carers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Falls can lead to social isolation, anxiety and depression for those who fall, although little is known about how informal carers manage those at risk from falling at home. This study aimed to explore the experiences of informal carers who care for frail, older people at risk from falling at home. A qualitative study using thematic analysis was conducted for this purpose. Data were collected via one-to-one, semi-structured interviews. Informal carers experienced social isolation, significant adjustments to their working lives, a fear of further falls, tiredness, anxiety and depression. These findings mirror previous observations, which have found that falling is a predictor of both physical and psychological changes, although in those who fall rather than those who care for them. This highlights the need for both health and social care services to identify the impact of care recipient falls on the informal carer.

scholarly journals Cognitive Outcomes during COVID-19 confiNemeNt in Elderly and their Caregivers using Technologies for DEMentia (CONNECT DEM): study protocol (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Marian Goodman-Casanova ◽  
Elena Dura-Perez ◽  
Gloria Guerrero-Pertiñez ◽  
Pilar Barnestein-Fonseca ◽  
Jose Guzman-Parra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Mild Cognitive Impairment ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Mild Dementia ◽  
Care Services ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Community Dwelling Older Adults

BACKGROUND Coronavirus disease 2019 has forced worldwide the implementation of unprecedented restrictions to control its rapid spread and mitigate its impact. The Spanish government has enforced social distancing, quarantine and home confinement. This restriction of daily life activities and separation from loved ones may lead to social isolation and loneliness with health-related consequences in community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia and their caregivers. Additionally, an inadequate access to healthcare and social support services may aggravate chronic conditions. Technology home-based interventions emerge for combating social isolation and loneliness preventing the risk of viral exposure. OBJECTIVE The aim of this cohort study is to explore, analyze and determine the impact of social isolation on: 1) cognition, quality of life, mood, technophilia and perceived stress of community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia, and on caregiver burden; 2) health and social care services access and utilization, and 3) cognitive, social and entertainment use of ICTs. METHODS This study will be conducted in the Spanish region of Andalucía (Málaga). In total 200 dyads, consisting of a person with mild cognitive impairment or mild dementia (PMCI/MD) and their informal caregiver will be contacted by telephone. Potential respondents will be participants of the SMART 4 MD (N=100) and TV-AssistDem (N=100) clinical trials. RESULTS The change in means in the variables will be analyzed comparing baseline results in the previous studies with those during and after confinement using the ANOVA test of repeated measures or the non-parametric Friedman test if appropriate. The performance of a multivariate analysis of variance (ANCOVA) to introduce possible covariates will also be contemplated. A 95% confidence level will be used. CONCLUSIONS If the hypothesis is proven, these findings will demonstrate the negative impact of social isolation due to the COVID-19 confinement on cognition, quality of life, mood, and perceived stress of community-dwelling older adults with mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia, the impact on technophilia, caregiver burden, and health and social care services access and utilization; and the cognitive, social and entertainment use of ICTs during the COVID-19 confinement and afterwards. CLINICALTRIAL NCT: 04385797

Predictors of carer distress following stroke

1999 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 265-271 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie Morrison
Keyword(s):  
Depressed Mood ◽  
Social Care ◽  
Stroke Survivors ◽  
Care Provision ◽  
Health And Social Care ◽  
Informal Carers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

Whilst there is a considerable literature surrounding predictors of depressed mood in stroke survivors, much less research has been directed towards identifying the impact of a stroke on primary informal carers and the nature of the relationship between patient and carer characteristics, stroke consequences and carer distress. This review attempts to elucidate such relationships so that implications for health and social care provision can be drawn.

scholarly journals The Impact of Social Isolation on Romantic Relationships During the COVID-19 Pandemic

2021 ◽  
Vol 04 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bedia Kalemzer KARACA ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Social Isolation ◽  
Social Distance ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
The Social ◽  
Education Levels ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Due to the severe course of COVID-19, the rate of transmission, and the high risk of death, country governments have taken many measures, such as social isolation, to reduce the rate of transmission. This study, it is aimed to reveal the effect of the social isolation process caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on the romantic relationships of individuals. In this correlational study, 540 people (n=433 females, n=107 males) who had a romantic relationship in Turkey were reached by random sampling method. The participants were given the Sociodemographic Information Form and the Anxiety in Romantic Relationships During the Covid-19 Pandemic Period. Validity and reliability analyzes of the scale were made. Romantic relationships of the Covid-19 pandemic process have been determined that it affects women more than men, those with low education levels more than those with higher levels, and those with short relationships than those with long-term relationships. At the same time, it was concluded that those who live separately are more affected than those who live together, those who avoid sexuality are more affected than those who do not, and those who apply social distance rules at home are more affected than those who do not apply social distance rules at home. The research has some limitations. The scale was applied online to 540 people and reached a limited number of people. The results need to be supported by different studies.

scholarly journals Turning home boredom during the outbreak of COVID-19 into thriving at home and career self-management: the role of online leisure crafting

2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (11) ◽  
pp. 3645-3663
Author(s):  
I-Shuo Chen
Keyword(s):  
Social Isolation ◽  
Positive Impact ◽  
Leisure Activities ◽  
Mainland China ◽  
Self Management ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Hospitality Managers ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

Purpose This paper studied whether boredom at home due to social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic may motivate individuals to engage in online leisure crafting, thereby contributing to their thriving at home and career self-management. This paper aims to examine whether individuals’ growth need strength influences the impact of home boredom on online leisure crafting. Design/methodology/approach This paper performed a two-wave longitudinal study involving a group of employees from the hospitality industry (N = 340) in Mainland China. This paper evaluated home boredom, online leisure crafting and growth need strength at Time 1 and thriving at home and career self-management two months later at Time 2. Findings The respondents’ experience of home boredom had a time-lagged effect on their thriving at home and career self-management via online leisure crafting. Additionally, their growth need strength amplified the positive impact of home boredom on online leisure crafting. Practical implications Hospitality managers can motivate employees to engage in crafting online leisure activities at home when they experience home boredom during the outbreak of COVID-19, which may further allow them to experience thriving at home and engage in career self-management. Additionally, managers can develop managerial interventions to improve the growth need strength of employees with low growth needs, which may, in turn, render these employees less likely to tolerate home boredom, thereby increasing the positive impact of home boredom on their online leisure crafting. Originality/value This paper offer insights for the boredom literature regarding how individuals’ home boredom caused by social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic might lead to their thriving at home through online leisure crafting. This paper also provides insights for the leisure crafting literature regarding the role of online leisure crafting in individuals’ thriving at home. This paper reveals the role of growth need strength in the impact of home boredom on thriving at home through online leisure crafting.

scholarly journals A comparison of spouse and non-spouse carers of people with dementia: a descriptive analysis of Swedish national survey data

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcus F. Johansson ◽  
Kevin J. McKee ◽  
Lena Dahlberg ◽  
Christine L. Williams ◽  
Martina Summer Meranius ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Descriptive Analysis ◽  
Psychosocial Impact ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Informal Carer ◽  
Policy And Practice ◽  
Swedish Population ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background Being an informal carer of a person with dementia (PwD) can have a negative effect on the carer’s health and quality of life, and spouse carers have been found to be especially vulnerable. Yet relatively little is known about the care provided and support received by spouse carers. This study compares spouse carers to other informal carers of PwDs regarding their care provision, the support received and the psychosocial impact of care. Methods The study was a cross-sectional questionnaire-based survey of a stratified random sample of the Swedish population aged 18 or over. The questionnaire explored how much care the respondent provided, the support received, and the psychosocial impact of providing care. Of 30,009 people sampled, 11,168 (37.7 %) responded, of whom 330 (2.95 %) were informal carers of a PwD. Results In comparison to non-spouse carers, spouse carers provided more care more frequently, did so with less support from family or the local authority, while more frequently experiencing negative impacts on their social life and psychological and physical health. Spouse carers also received more carer support and more frequently experienced a closeness in their relationship with the care-recipient. Conclusions Spouse carers of PwD differed from non-spouse carers on virtually all aspects of their care situation. Policy and practice must be more sensitive to how the carer-care-recipient relationship shapes the experience of care, so that support is based on an understanding of the individual carer’s actual needs and preferences rather than on preconceptions drawn from a generalised support model.

scholarly journals Determinants of the need for respite according to the characteristics of informal carers of elderly people at home: results from the 2015 French national survey

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfried GUETS ◽  
Lionel PERRIER
Keyword(s):  
Psychological Intervention ◽  
Population Aging ◽  
Probit Model ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Sensitivity Analyses ◽  
Informal Carer ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Training Support ◽  
Informal Carers

Abstract Background The demographic and social changes associated with population aging and the increasing incidence of chronic diseases underscore the importance of the role of informal carers. The number of informal carers is increasing and negative consequences associated with providing care, such as burnout, are known. However the influence of socioeconomic and psychological factors on the need for respite have not been well characterized to date. Informal care represents an essential component of health care systems and long-term care. The purpose of this study was to shed light on how the characteristics of informal carers affect the need for respite. Methods We used data from a nationally representative survey, Capacités Aides et Resources des Seniors (CARE - ménage), collected in 2015 by the National Institute for Statistics and Economic Studies (INSEE) and the Directorate for Research, Studies, Assessment and Statistics (DREES). The determinants of the need for respite among the characteristics of informal caregivers were explored using a probit model. To handle missing data, sensitivity analyses were performed using multiple imputations. Results Our study included N = 4033 dyads of informal carers and care recipients. The mean age was 61 for carers. The majority of carers were female, married, the child of the care recipient. Almost 27% reported a need for respite. A worse health status, feeling of loneliness, having a lack of time for oneself and needing to provide more than 30 h of care per month very significantly increased the need for respite irrespective of whether or not the carer lived with the care recipient (p < 0.01). Providing care to other persons was likely to induce a greater need for respite (p < 0.01). Cohabitation of the informal carer and the care recipient was likely to increase the need for respite (p < 0.05). Conversely, however, being closely acquainted with the care recipient showed a reduced need for respite in comparison with that of carers who are married to their care recipient (p < 0.05). Conclusions These findings provide useful information for policymakers, physicians and other health professionals for reducing carers’ risk of exhaustion and burnout and for referring carers to the relevant service, e.g. psychological intervention, respite care support, training support and education support.

scholarly journals Prioritising key motivators and challenges influencing informal carers’ decisions for participating in randomised trials: An embedded Study Within A before and after Trial (SWAT 55)

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 71
Author(s):  
Valerie Smith ◽  
Margarita Corry ◽  
Declan Devane ◽  
Shaun Treweek ◽  
Andrew Hunter ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Research Participation ◽  
Chronic Illnesses ◽  
Care Recipient ◽  
Feasibility Trial ◽  
Informal Carer ◽  
Care Giving ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Important Challenge ◽  
Multi Method Approach ◽  
Informal Carers

Background: Family members, or others, often assume the role of informal (unpaid) carers of people with chronic illnesses. Care-giving, however, can impact profoundly on the quality of life of carers and can cause carer worry, stress and guilt. Implementing interventions that positively affect the lives of carers is important; however, carers as a group are often difficult to reach. We embedded a study within a pilot-feasibility trial of a mindfulness based intervention to determine and prioritise the key motivators and challenges influencing informal carers’ decisions for participating in a trial. Methods: We used a multi-method approach involving interviews with participants from a ‘host trial’ and data from systematic reviews to develop a survey that was distributed to informal carers in Ireland. The survey consisted of 28 motivator and 17 challenge statements. Participants rated how important they thought each statement was when deciding to take part in a trial on a 5-point Likert Scale. Mean scores and standard deviations were calculated for each statement and arranged in descending order to provide the priority lists. Results: Thirty-six carers responded to the survey. Helping to create awareness about carers was the top ranked motivator, followed by four study design statements related to the time at which the study occurs, the study location, format of delivery and venue. The least important motivator related to how carers were invited to take part in a study. Difficulties in planning due to the caring role emerged as the most important challenge, followed by being unable to leave the care recipient on his/her own. Conclusions: Insight into decision-making for research participation will assist trial developers tailor trial processes for informal carer populations. We recommend that trialists should consider these motivators and challenges when designing future trials involving informal carers so as to enhance trial feasibility and success.

scholarly journals Mathematical Model to Estimate and Predict the COVID-19 Infections in Morocco: Optimal Control Strategy

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Omar Zakary ◽  
Sara Bidah ◽  
Mostafa Rachik ◽  
Hanane Ferjouchia
Keyword(s):  
Mathematical Model ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Optimal Control ◽  
Discrete Time ◽  
Control Strategy ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Optimal Control Strategy ◽  
Population At Risk ◽  
The Impact ◽  
At Home

In this paper, we aim to estimate and predict the situation of the new coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) in countries under quarantine measures. First, we present a new discrete-time mathematical model describing the evolution of the COVID-19 in a population under quarantine. We are motivated by the growing numbers of infections and deaths in countries under quarantine to investigate potential causes. We consider two new classes of people, those who respect the quarantine and stay at home, and those who do not respect the quarantine and leave their homes for one or another reason. Second, we use real published data to estimate the parameters of the model, and then, we estimate these populations in Morocco. We investigate the impact of people who underestimate the quarantine by considering an optimal control strategy to reduce this category and then reducing the number of the population at risk in Morocco. We provide several simulations to support our findings.

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