COVID-19 Vaccination Experiences of Family Caregivers of Persons Living with Dementia in Rural Appalachia

Abstract

The study investigated COVID-19 vaccine acceptance, hesitancy, and barriers among family caregivers of rural community-dwelling persons living with dementia (PLwD). Three waves of telephone interviews with 26 family caregivers (96% White, 81% Female, Mage = 63 ± 12 years) were analyzed using thematic content analysis. At Wave 3, although all dyads were eligible, only 10 dyads had received their first dose of the vaccine. In 10 dyads, neither person had received the vaccine; in2 dyads, the caregivers did but the PLwD did not; and in 4 dyads, the caregiver did not but the PLwD did. Perceived direct and indirect health risks, cues from trusted allies, and ability to overcome vaccination barriers affected COVID-19 vaccination acceptance. Vaccine refusals were motivated by a low perceived risk of COVID-19, vaccine fear, and personal beliefs. Findings have implications for administration of preventative care practices for dementia family caregivers living in remote locations during a public health emergency.

Factors Related to Caregivers’ Intention to Vaccinate Their Elderly Family Members with Major Neurocognitive Disorders against COVID-19

“…The present study did not find significant associations between caregiver concerns regarding the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines, fear of COVID-19, and individuals with MNDs’ cognitive dysfunctions and neuropsychiatric symptoms and caregiver intention. The results of the present study were not congruent with those of the previous studies [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Studies have found that high caregiver concerns regarding the side effects of COVID-19 vaccines and low caregiver fear of COVID-19 have been found to be correlated with low caregiver intention to vaccinate their elderly family members with MNDs [ 18 , 19 ].…”

“…Family members who support vaccination can also provide vaccination information to caregivers and get elderly family members with MNDs vaccinated as soon as possible. Information regarding vaccination from trusted people also affects caregiver COVID-19 vaccination acceptance [ 18 ]. This suggests that the attitudes of both the primary caregiver and other family members may influence whether or not elderly individuals with MNDs receive vaccination in a society with strong family ties.…”

“…Another study also found that cognitive and behavioral changes following vaccination were rarely reported in elderly individuals with MNDs [ 16 ]. However, studies have found that some caregivers are hesitant to have their elderly family members with MNDs vaccinated against COVID-19 [ 18 , 19 ]. A study in Shanghai, China, from April to May 2022 found that only 27.1% of elderly individuals with MNDs living in community-dwelling settings were vaccinated against COVID-19 [ 20 ].…”

“…Several factors have been found to be associated with caregivers’ intention to vaccinate their elderly family members with MNDs. A qualitative study found that perceived direct and indirect health risks of contracting COVID-19, information regarding vaccination from trusted people, and the ability to overcome vaccination barriers affected caregiver COVID-19 vaccination acceptance, whereas caregiver vaccine refusals were motivated by a low perceived risk of COVID-19, vaccine fear, and personal beliefs [ 18 ]. A questionnaire survey study found that caregivers’ concern regarding the aggravation of elderly family members’ health conditions by vaccination, negative reports about the vaccination, and adverse reactions to vaccination were related to caregiver vaccine hesitancy [ 19 ].…”

ChatGPT vs Google for Queries Related to Dementia and Other Cognitive Decline: Comparison of Results

“…PLWD have also reported frustration in reading about emerging research findings related to ADRD on the internet, only to find later that those findings were inaccurate as newer research is reported [ 23 ]. The impact of health misinformation on the internet on the dementia community has most recently been documented during the COVID-19 pandemic, where caregivers reported that they refused vaccination for themselves or their care recipients based on fears from what they read on the internet [ 25 ].…”