Social isolation due to COVID-19 restrictive measures appear to have a major influence on the well-being of people with dementia, informal caregivers, and professional caregivers. While loneliness and challenging behavior may increase in people with dementia, social support for informal caregivers is reduced and their burden increases. In addition, rules regarding physical distance and the use of personal protective equipment complicates the work of healthcare professionals.

This study investigates the impact of social isolation during the COVID-pandemic on home-  and long-term care for people with dementia, informal caregivers, and professional caregivers. Interviews with 20 informal caregivers and 20 professional caregivers about their concerns, problems, and needs regarding dementia care and social well-being in times of social isolation will be conducted.

Journal article:

Smaling HJA, Tilburgs B, Achterberg WP, Visser M. The Impact of Social Distancing Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on People with Dementia, Family Carers and Healthcare Professionals: A Qualitative Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2022; 19(1):519. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph19010519

Expected outputs of the project will be:

• Insight into the concerns, problems, and needs of people living with dementia, informal caregivers, and professional caregivers in times of social isolation during the COVID-pandemic, in both home- and long-term care.
• Recommendations for policy that can be applied to home- and long-term care, aimed to optimize social-wellbeing for people with dementia, their informal caregivers, and professional caregivers during isolation.