Anna Webber
Pronouns: she her
Research Mentor(s): Amanda Leggett
Co-Presenter: Wallace, Sarah
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Psychiatry / Medicine
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 4 – 2:40pm – 3:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Sarah Wallace, Tyson Fang, Elaina Baker, Hannah Lee, Amanda Leggett
Presenter: 26
Abstract
Abstract Title: How Caregiving Style is Impacted by Using or Accessing Formal Services for a Person Living With Dementia during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Background: Being a caregiver for a person living with dementia is in itself an extremely taxing job. There is previous research on caregiving styles, but this study explores how a pandemic may influence caregiving. Certain formal services such as healthcare, respite care or a support group utilized by caregivers for their care recipient may be affected by a pandemic causing even more difficulty for the caregiver, or relieving stress and challenges. Effects of the pandemic on services may include delays in appointments or services being moved online. Methods: This study explores the relationship between healthcare and community based services, and caregiving styles during a pandemic. Information was gathered through 100 qualitative interviews with caregivers in which they were asked questions in relation to how the pandemic changed the way they care, if at all. The data gathered in the interviews is being qualitatively analyzed using the Rapid and Rigorous Qualitative Data Analysis (RADaR) technique. Through this method data is sorted through in steps to only include data relevant to the research question. After initial sorting coding can begin by naming themes found in the data and comparing them across interviews. Results: Analysis of the data is ongoing, but several patterns have already emerged. Caregivers were negatively and positively impacted by the pandemic. Some formal services stopped due to COVID-19 which created undue stress on the caregivers and boredom for their care recipient. However, the movement of some services online made accessing them easier for some caregivers. Discussion: These interviews allow us insight into how the pandemic changed access to services and the styles of caregivers for people living with dementia. The results discovered by this study may provide implications for interventions for caregivers that will aid them in maintaining quality care and life for their person living with dementia.
Biomedical Sciences
