Staffordshire University logo
STORE - Staffordshire Online Repository

Carers' experiences of caring for a friend or family member with dementia during the Covid-19 pandemic

HERRON, Daniel, RUNACRES, Jessica, DANTON, Ian and Beardmore, Jack (2023) Carers' experiences of caring for a friend or family member with dementia during the Covid-19 pandemic. Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice. ISSN 1471-3012

[img] Text
Reviewer_revisions_Carers'_experiences_of_caring_for_a_friend_or_family_member_with_dementia_during_the_Covid-19_pandemic_15_12_22.docx - AUTHOR'S ACCEPTED Version (default)
Available under License All Rights Reserved.

Download (63kB)

Abstract or description

Objectives

This study aimed to explore carers’ experiences of supporting a family member or friend with dementia through COVID-19 and experiences of hope and resilience during this time.

Methods

Qualitative longitudinal research was undertaken in the UK, with thirteen unpaid carers of people living with dementia who took part in two semi-structured interviews 8 weeks apart between June and October 2020. All transcripts were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Findings

Four themes were developed and included: COVID-19 impacted negatively upon everyday living; carer resilience: adapting to COVID-19; analysis of risk: safeguarding the person living with dementia; and thinking about the future with COVID-19.

Conclusions

The results illustrated how the sudden changes which occurred during the pandemic negatively impacted on carers and people living with dementia in several ways, including additional responsibilities and taking away hope. The importance of continued formal and informal support for carers and people living with dementia during COVID-19 were highlighted. Formal services, care homes, and organisations need to be supported to implement procedures to ensure a safe environment during future lockdowns or periods of social restrictions. This will enable carers to remain visiting their family members and increase their confidence in accessing services and allowing paid carers to support their family member with dementia. These results have also illustrated the resilience of carers, who adapted to sudden changes which impacted negatively on their wellbeing and the wellbeing of the person living with dementia.

Item Type: Article
Additional Information: “This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by SAGE in Dementia: The International Journal of Social Research and Practice on 11 January 2023, available at: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/14713012221150298
Faculty: School of Life Sciences and Education > Psychology and Counselling
Depositing User: Daniel HERRON
Date Deposited: 14 Feb 2023 09:41
Last Modified: 24 Feb 2023 14:04
URI: https://eprints.staffs.ac.uk/id/eprint/7625

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item

DisabledGo Staffordshire University is a recognised   Investor in People. Sustain Staffs
Legal | Freedom of Information | Site Map | Job Vacancies
Staffordshire University, College Road, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 2DE t: +44 (0)1782 294000