COVID-19 and Caregiving for Dementia Program Recap

Thank you to Ronald Perez and Nicolette Vasco from the Alzheimer’s Association for their presentation on how COVID-19 has impacted caregiving for and caregivers of individuals with dementia, including Alzheimer’s.  The global pandemic has impacted all aspects of our lives, especially as it relates to care for those with dementia.  This has caused significant changes to care facilities and routines.  Let’s take a deeper look into how COVID-19 has impacted dementia and caregiving.

COVID-19 and Dementia

COVID-19 has had a significant impact as it relates to individuals with dementia.  Individuals with dementia are twice as likely to contract COVID-19 as individuals who do not suffer from dementia. Additionally, African Americans are disproportionately impacted by both Alzheimer’s disease and COVID-19, with African Americans experiencing dementia 3 times more likely contract COVID-19 than white people experiencing dementia.

There multiple reasons for the increase in COVID-19 contraction for individuals with dementia.  A person living with dementia may forget to wear a mask or keep the mask on, forget to physically distance from others, or forget to frequently wash their hands.  Additionally, if an individual with dementia is in a group setting, it can be hard to control the interactions others in the facility have with the outside world.  However, vaccines are an important step for those with dementia to help limit the serious effects associated with COVID-19.  Luckily, a significant portion of those in long-term care facilities, both staff and residents, are vaccinated.  If you have any questions about vaccines for someone with dementia, please contact their healthcare provider.

Tips

Tips for Caregivers

The most important thing to remember for caregivers of individuals with dementia is proper hygienic practices, such as washing your hands for 20 seconds, putting up signs to remind individuals with dementia to wash their hands, and demonstrate thorough hand washing for those suffering from dementia.  Because COVID-19 can disrupt someone’s routine, monitor for a rapid change in confusion and call their healthcare provider if you notice any significant changes.  A great way to limit the amount of exposure to yourself and someone with dementia is to request that prescriptions be filled for longer periods of time, such as from 1 month to 3 months.  You can also try and enroll the person in mail delivery or home delivery of medications.  Lastly, try and put a plan in place should the primary caregiver become ill or exposed or if adult day care, respite, or other services become modified or cancelled.  You can find more tips by visiting https://www.alz.org/COVID19.

Tips for Using Home-Based Services

Bringing anyone into the home of someone suffering from dementia increases their risk of exposure.  Ask the service provider to explain their protocols to reduce the spread of COVID-19, including vaccination status for any employees visiting the home.  Before allowing anyone in the home, be sure to:

• Check temperature for under 100.4 degrees
• Ask if they have been exposed to anyone who tested positive for COVID-19
• Request handwashing immediately upon entry and frequently during stay
• Ensure they wear a mask at all times while around a person with dementia

Tips for Community-Based Care

Many adult day centers have implemented CDC guidelines related to COVID-19 and are safely serving patients with dementia with additional safety measures.  However, communal care facilities may pose a risk for those with dementia due to challenges with social distancing, number of outside visitors, and other safety measures.  It is recommended to visit the care facility to see their policies in action and determine your level of comfort with those policies.

Tips for Caregivers of Individuals in Residential Care

If you are visiting someone in a residential care facility, be sure to check the facility’s visitation policies before visiting.  If you are unvaccinated, it is strongly recommended to get tested prior to visiting.  Be sure to postpone your visit if you are exposed to someone COVID-19 positive within 14 days of your planned visit and inform staff members if you develop any COVID-19 symptoms within 14 days of your visit.  During your visit, be sure to stay in approved areas, socially distance from others, conduct visits outdoors when feasible, avoid touching your face, bring your own face mask and wear it all times, and wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  If you are unable to wash your hands, you can use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol.

If you are unable to visit the residential care facility, contact the facility to see what options are available for communication, such as phone or video calls.  Provide your contact information to the staff or attending nurse and ask that it be posted in the patient’s room.  You should also inquire about how you can expect to receive updates so be sure to follow-up to ensure those measures are working.

Tips for Home Activities

The Alzheimer’s Association has a wonderful webpage dedicated to developing plans for home care, including activities at https://www.alz.org/care.  Try to create a simple, daily plan to establish a new routine and provide a reference that you point someone with dementia to in order to remind them of what needs to happen; be sure to include time to wash hands and other hygienic activities.  Focus on the enjoyment of the activity, not so much on the achievement and be sure to keep the skills and abilities of the person with dementia in mind.  Be mindful of exposure to upsetting content in the news, television programs, or movies that may cause adverse reactions or undue stress.

Tips for Caregiver Stress

While making sure our loved one with dementia is properly cared for and safe from exposure to COVID-19, it is equally important to make sure that you are taking care of yourself, mentally and physically.  It is very easy to become stressed with everything going on and the changes related to care and visitation and without proper care, it can lead anger, social withdrawal, anxiety, depression, exhaustion, lack of concentration, or health problems.  To help alleviate stress, consider engaging in physical activity, staying connected with loved ones, relaxation techniques, and engaging with support groups.

More Information

There are a whole host of resources out there for individuals suffering from dementia and their caregivers:

• Community Resource Finder – provides links and resources from a wide-range of providers related to all aspects of dementia-related care, including the Alzheimer’s Association, AARP, community services, housing options, and medical services.
• ALZConnected – A free online community for everyone affected by Alzheimer’s or other dementia, including people living with the disease, caregivers, family members, friends, and those who have lost someone suffering from dementia.
• Alzheimer’s Navigator – A free online tool that helps guide caregivers to answers by creating a personalized action plan and linking you to information, support, and local resources.

To view a recording of the program, please visit https://youtu.be/QhGaLTQC7O8.  If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicolette Vasco at navasco@alz.org.