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Caregiver Tele-Assistance for Reduction of Emotional Distress During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Psychological Support to Caregivers of People with Dementia: The Italian Experience.
Rotondo, Emanuela; Galimberti, Daniela; Mercurio, Matteo; Giardinieri, Giulia; Forti, Sara; Vimercati, Roberto; Borracci, Vittoria; Fumagalli, Giorgio G; Pietroboni, Anna M; Carandini, Tiziana; Nobili, Alessandro; Scarpini, Elio; Arighi, Andrea.
  • Rotondo E; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Galimberti D; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Mercurio M; University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
  • Giardinieri G; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Forti S; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Vimercati R; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Borracci V; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Fumagalli GG; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Pietroboni AM; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Carandini T; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Nobili A; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
  • Scarpini E; Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
  • Arighi A; Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda, Ospedale Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 85(3): 1045-1052, 2022.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1528806
ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND:

COVID-19 pandemic worsened vulnerability of patients with dementia (PWD). This new reality associated with government restriction and isolation worsened stress burden and psychological frailties in PWD caregivers.

OBJECTIVE:

To give tele-psychological support to caregivers and evaluate the effect of this intervention by quantifying stress burden and quality of life during the first COVID-19 lockdown.

METHODS:

50 caregivers were divided into two groups "Caregiver-focused group" (Cg) and "Patient-focused group" (Pg). Both groups received telephone contact every 2 weeks over a 28-week period, but the content of the call was different in Cg, caregivers answered questions about the state of the PWD but also explored their own emotional state, stress burden, and quality of life. In Pg instead, telephone contacts were focused only on the PWD, and no evaluation regarding the caregiver mood or state of stress was made. Psychometric scales were administered to evaluate COVID-19 impact, stress burden, and quality of life.

RESULTS:

Considering the time of intervention, from baseline (W0) to W28, Zarit Burden Interview and Quality of Life-caregiver questionnaires remained unchanged in Cg as compared with baseline (p > 0.05), whereas they worsened significantly in Pg (p < 0.01), showing increased stress over time and decreased quality of life in this group. Moreover, Impact on Event Scale values improved over the weeks in Cg (p = 0.015), while they remained unchanged in Pg (p = 0.483).

CONCLUSION:

Caregivers who received telephone support about their mood and stress burden did not worsen their psychological state during the time of intervention, as did instead those who did not get such support.
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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telephone / Caregivers / Dementia / Psychosocial Support Systems / Psychological Distress / Caregiver Burden Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Journal subject: Geriatrics / Neurology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: JAD-215185

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Telephone / Caregivers / Dementia / Psychosocial Support Systems / Psychological Distress / Caregiver Burden Type of study: Experimental Studies / Observational study / Qualitative research / Randomized controlled trials Limits: Aged / Female / Humans / Male / Middle aged Country/Region as subject: Europa Language: English Journal: J Alzheimers Dis Journal subject: Geriatrics / Neurology Year: 2022 Document Type: Article Affiliation country: JAD-215185