Impact of confinement measures due to the COVID-19 pandemic on people living with dementia and their caregivers in Spain.

The COVID-19 pandemic has particularly affected people living with dementia (PLWD) and their caregivers, who have seen their access to social support services and opportunities for socialisation limited. The objective of the study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on PLWD and their caregivers in Spain. An online survey was conducted between November 27, 2020, and January 19, 2021, that explored compliance with prevention guidelines, changes at the family level and in access to social support services. Instruments were included to estimate levels of anxiety and depression. The survey was answered by 229 people (161 current caregivers, 54 former caregivers, 13 formal caregivers and 1 person with dementia). Analysis of the current and former caregivers showed that they felt well informed, although they find it difficult for PLWD to comply with prevention guidelines. The use of social support services was reduced and the difficulty of access to social and health services increased, there was a negative impact on the economic situation and family relationships, with an increase in perceived overload. In addition, caregivers of PLWD scored above the cut-off points in the tests used to assess depression and anxiety, although the results of the multiple regression analysis do not allow us to conclude that the loss of resources influences the anxiety and depression scores. The negative impact of the pandemic on caregivers of PLWD is verified. It is necessary to adapt social support services and design strategies to maintain the provision of support to these vulnerable groups.

Tratamiento no farmacológico en demencias: efectividad de los animales robóticos / Non-pharmacological treatment of dementia: effectiveness of robotic animals

El Centro de Referencia Estatal de atención a personas con enfermedad de Alzheimer y otras demencias (CREA) cuenta con un programa de terapias no farmacológicas (TNF) al que se van incorporando intervenciones novedosas, adaptándonos a los cambios sociales y tecnológicos. Una de las TNF que más interés ha generado en los últimos años es la Roboterapia, el uso de robots sociales con forma de animal. Numerosos estudios han mostrado que la roboterapia tiene beneficios en las áreas social, afectiva, fisiológica y comportamental, pudiendo repercutir en la calidad de vida de la persona con demencia. A este respecto desde el CREA se han realizado recientemente dos estudios: el primero de ellos para valorar la eficacia de la foca robótica Paro en la reducción de los síntomas psicológicos o conductuales y mejora de la calidad de vida; mientras que el segundo consistió en una comparación de las respuestas generadas por Paro o un cachorro de perro

The National Reference Centre for Alzheimer's and Dementia care (CREA) has a program of non-pharmacological therapies (NPT) to which new interventions are incorporated, adapting to social and technological changes. Robotherapy, the use of social robots in the form of animals, is a NPT that has attracted great interest in recent years. Numerous studies have shown that robotherapy has benefits in the social, affective, physiological and behavioural areas, and can have an impact on the quality of life of the person with dementia. In this regard, two studies have been carried out recently by CREA: the first of them to assess the effectiveness of the Paro robotic seal in reducing psychological or behavioural symptoms and improving quality of life; while the second consisted of a comparison of the responses generated by Paro or a puppy dog