Dementia Caregivers' Trajectories of Well-Being Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic. (17th December 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Albers, Elizabeth; Birkeland, Robyn; Peterson, Colleen; Drake, Anna; Gaugler, Joseph; Mitchell, Lauren
• Is Part Of: Innovation in aging. Volume 5(2021)Supplement 1
• Page Start: 311
• Page End: 312
• Publication Date: 2021-12-17
• Subjects: Aging -- Periodicals; Gerontology -- Periodicals; 612.67
• DOI: 10.1093/geroni/igab046.1207
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2399-5300

Abstract

Abstract: Residents of long-term care settings and their family caregivers have been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The present mixed-methods study examines trajectories of well-being pre- and post-pandemic onset for caregivers of persons with dementia living in residential long-term care. Participants were taking part in, or had recently completed, an ongoing intervention trial to support families transitioning a relative into long-term care. Beginning in summer 2020, we started assessing caregivers' COVID-19-related experiences and added three surveys spanning 4-months beyond the 12-month parent study period to capture caregivers' adjustment throughout the pandemic. Using latent growth curve models, we estimated caregivers' (N = 104) trajectories of depressive symptoms, burden, and self-efficacy before and during the pandemic. We also tested whether the counseling intervention had protective effects for participants in the treatment group, and examined moderators including long-term care facility size, care recipient's dementia and health status, and quality of staff interactions.