Cultural Adaptation and Piloting of iSupport Dementia in Greece.

The COVID-19 pandemic brought into the spotlight the technological needs of carers together with accessibility and availability of disease-related web-based services. Athens Alzheimer Association undertook the cultural adaptation of the platform iSupport in Greece. The process included multiple methodological steps based on Ecological Validity Model, and the platform was pilot tested to 15 carers of people with dementia. The duration of this project lasted for one year (April 2020-March 2021). Today more than 160 carers in Greece have registered on the platform. All 23 lessons are easily accessible by the isupportdementia-greece website.

The effect of prolonged lockdown due to COVID-19 on demented patients of different stages and on their caregivers

Background The impact of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is deteriorating as time passes and the virus keeps spreading. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of prolonged isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with dementia and their caregivers. Method Caregivers answered online questions regarding their own physical and psychological burden, and of the person they take care of. The study took place in Athens, Greece, from November 2020 to April 2021. Participants were mostly members of online seminars of the Athens Alzheimer?s Association. Questions referred to their own burden, the overall decline of the persons they take care of, and changes in specific domains as well (i.e., mood, mobility, compliance with the new measures). Further, we also asked about any changes between the two major lockdown periods. Possible answers were: ?not at all?, ?moderately?, ?a lot?. Statistical analysis included descriptive (mean, standard deviation, frequency, and percent) and inferential statistics (chi-square test). Analysis was performed including the total sample and then, by three different stages of dementia (early, middle, late). Result A total of 339 caregivers took part in the study. People suffering from dementia that were referred at, were mostly women, with a mean age of 81 (S.D.: 7.5) years old, mostly being in the middle stage of dementia. Results indicated significant decline, both in an overall aspect of the people with dementia, and in specific domains (mostly communication and mood). Regarding the caregivers, they reported having significantly increased physical and psychological burden, and also, noticing an overall change between the two lockdowns in their own burden. Analysis by dementia-stage group indicated that significant decline occurred both in the middle-stage and the late-stage group. Conclusion An urgency for further support of both the people with neurodegenerations and their caregivers is needed. Collaboration among care workers, online programs, governmental support, and day-care centers should be planned to ensure continuity of care for those in need during the pandemic.

Are PM2.5 in the Atmosphere of a Small City a Threat for Health?

A number of time series from two local PM2.5 monitoring stations were analyzed, for a small city, in North East Greece. They coincided with SARS-CoV-2 pandemic lockdowns and lifting restrictions. The aim of this analysis was to establish concentration exceedances and roughly apportion sources of the PM2.5 concentration problem. This was established by analyzing 24-h filter samples of trace elements using WD-XRF. It was found that the restrictions and their lifting did not significantly affect these concentrations. The main problems were assigned to emissions from biomass burning central heating and Saharan dust episodes. The study results indicate that even in small cities the air quality as far as PM2.5 is concerned can still be deleterious to the local population according to the WHO restricting levels but not according to the EU levels. The fact that PM2.5 is not a single chemical pollutant makes matters more complicated and renders such concentration upper levels, of little significance.

The Effect of Prolonged Lockdown Due to COVID-19 on Greek Demented Patients of Different Stages and on Their Caregivers.

BACKGROUND: The impact of the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is deteriorating as time passes and the virus keeps spreading, with people with dementia and their caregivers being affected significantly. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the effect of prolonged isolation because of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with dementia and their caregivers. METHODS: Caregivers answered online questions regarding their own physical and psychological burden, and of the person they take care of. Participants were mostly members of online seminars of the Athens Alzheimer's Association. Questions referred to their own burden, the overall decline of the persons they take care of, and changes in specific domains as well. Further, participants were asked about any changes between the two major lockdown periods. Analysis was performed including the total sample and then, by three different stages of dementia. RESULTS: A total of 339 caregivers took part in the study. Results indicated significant decline, both in an overall aspect of the people with dementia, and in specific domains (mostly communication and mood). Regarding the caregivers, they reported having significantly increased physical and psychological burden, and also, noticing an overall change between the two lockdown periods in their own burden. Analysis by dementia-stage group indicated that significant decline occurred both in the middle-stage and the late-stage group. CONCLUSION: An urgency for further support of both the people with neurodegenerative disorders and their caregivers is needed. Collaboration among care workers, online programs, governmental support, and day-care centers should be planned to ensure continuity of care for those in need during the pandemic.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people with mild cognitive impairment/dementia and on their caregivers.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was first detected in Mainland China in December 2019, and soon it spread throughout the world, with multiple physical and psychological consequences across the affected populations. AIMS: The aim of the current study was to analyze the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI)/dementia and their caregivers as well. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and four caregivers took part in the study, completing a self-reported questionnaire about the person with MCI/dementia and their own, since the lockdown period which started in February and ended in May of 2020 in Greece. RESULTS: Results indicated a significant overall decline of the people with MCI/dementia. Further, the domains in which people with MCI/dementia were mostly affected were: communication, mood, movement and compliance with the new measures. Caregivers also reported a great increase in their psychological and physical burden during this period, where the available support sources were limited. DISCUSSION: The pandemic threatens to disrupt the basic routines that promote mental and physical health of both people with MCI/dementia and t heir caregivers. CONCLUSION: Further measures to protect and provide support to people who suffer and their families are needed.