Changes to Family Caregiving of Older Adults and Adults with Disabilities during COVID-19

Abstract

The strict restrictions to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have disrupted the lives of many at-risk people and their family caregivers. This study explored how family caregivers perceived that family caregiving had changed during COVID-19 and the strategies they used to cope with these changes. We conducted 52 semi-structured interviews with family caregivers of adults over age 65 or adults with disabilities and analyzed the data through an inductive thematic analysis. Caregivers perceive the largest COVID-19-related caregiving changes to be limited social and physical contacts, changed caregiving tasks, reduced services and supports, and a new focus on vigilance and safety. Caregivers made numerous changes to caregiving, including keeping connected, keeping relatives occupied, getting support and services in new ways, and reducing caregiver stress.

Development and validation of the caregiver needs and resources assessment

“…There is restricted access or curtailment in health and community services under the social distancing measures, which substantially disrupt the daily caregiving routine of the family caregivers (Lum et al, 2020;Chan et al, 2021), bring frustration to help-seeking (Kent et al, 2020), and impede access to medication (Wong and Cheung, 2020). Handling the household chores also brings fear of infection to the caregivers and the possible transmission to the care recipients (Kent et al, 2020;Lightfoot et al, 2021). Informal help availability and social support are reduced, making the family caregivers solely responsible for the caregiving tasks (Lightfoot et al, 2021;Savla et al, 2021).…”

“…Handling the household chores also brings fear of infection to the caregivers and the possible transmission to the care recipients (Kent et al, 2020;Lightfoot et al, 2021). Informal help availability and social support are reduced, making the family caregivers solely responsible for the caregiving tasks (Lightfoot et al, 2021;Savla et al, 2021). The increased use of online communication and activities may require family members' assistance for older adults with low digital literacy (Kent et al, 2020).…”