Wong Bel Pui-Sze, Kwok Timothy Chi-Yui, Chui Kenny Chi-Man, Cheng Tobi Sum-To, Ho Florence Kwai-Ying, Woo Jean
Department of Research, Jockey Club Centre for Positive Ageing, Sha Tin, Hong Kong.
Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.
Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2021 Sep 7;37(1). doi: 10.1002/gps.5621.
This study aimed at revealing the caregiving challenges of the caregivers of people with dementia (PwD) during the COVID-19 pandemic when daycare service was stopped as an infection control measure, and discussed ways to help PwD and their family caregivers to maintain their well-being in the era of the pandemic.
Between April and May 2020, a cross-sectional survey was conducted in 152 family caregivers of PwD who were clients of daycare service prior to the pandemic. The survey examined caregivers' stress and challenges faced during daycare service cessation, their perceived needs for continuation of daycare service, and observed changes in functional status of PwD. Regression analyses were performed to explore the associated factors of caregiving stress and preference for continuation of daycare service.
Family caregivers of PwD experienced greater caregiving stress after cessation of daycare service. Infection was their main challenge in caregiving, and their physical and emotional health was adversely affected by the longer time commitment with PwD under the stay-home policy. Older age of caregivers, greater emotional and communication problems of PwD, and more time spent with PwD were associated with greater caregiving stress. More than one-third of the participants preferred the continuation of daycare service during the pandemic.
Policy makers should consider the well-being of PwD and their caregivers when planning infection control measures. Daycare service with enhanced infection controlled measures should remain available to PwD during the COVID-19 pandemic.
本研究旨在揭示在新冠疫情期间，作为感染控制措施日托服务停止时，痴呆症患者（PwD）照料者面临的照料挑战，并探讨在疫情时代帮助痴呆症患者及其家庭照料者维持其健康的方法。
2020年4月至5月期间，对152名痴呆症患者的家庭照料者进行了横断面调查，这些照料者在疫情之前是日托服务的使用者。该调查考察了照料者在日托服务停止期间面临的压力和挑战、他们对继续提供日托服务的感知需求，以及观察到的痴呆症患者功能状态的变化。进行回归分析以探索照料压力和继续提供日托服务偏好的相关因素。
日托服务停止后，痴呆症患者的家庭照料者经历了更大的照料压力。感染是他们照料中的主要挑战，并且在居家政策下与痴呆症患者相处时间更长对他们的身心健康产生了不利影响。照料者年龄较大、痴呆症患者存在更多情感和沟通问题以及与痴呆症患者相处时间更长与更大的照料压力相关。超过三分之一的参与者希望在疫情期间继续提供日托服务。
政策制定者在规划感染控制措施时应考虑痴呆症患者及其照料者的健康。在新冠疫情期间，应继续为痴呆症患者提供加强了感染控制措施的日托服务。
