Abstract

Objectives

With a lack of existing comprehensive reviews, the aim of this mixed-method systematic review was to synthesise the evidence on the early impacts of the pandemic on unpaid dementia carers across the globe.

Methods

This review was registered on PROSPERO [CDR42021248050]. PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science were searched from 2020 to July 2021. Studies were included if they reported on the different impacts of the pandemic on unpaid dementia carers aged 18+, with papers published in English, German, Polish, or Spanish. A number of research team members were involved in the selection of studies following PRISMA guidance.

Results

Thirty-six studies (43 papers) from 18 countries reported on the early impact of the pandemic on unpaid dementia carers. Impacts were noted on accessing care and support; carer burden; and well-being. Studies found that carers had limited access to care and support services, increased workload, enhanced feelings of social isolation, and reduced wellbeing. Specifically, reductions in access to care and support increased carer’s unpaid caring tasks, removing any opportunities for temporary respite, and thus further increasing carer burden and reducing mental well-being in many.

Conclusions

The needs of unpaid dementia carers appear to have increased during the pandemic, without adequate support provided. Policy initiatives need to enable better mental health support and formal care provision for unpaid carers and their relatives with dementia, whilst future research needs to explore the long-term implications of carer needs in light of care home restrictions and care delivery.

中文翻译：

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COVID-19 对痴呆症患者的无偿护理人员的早期影响：混合方法系统评价的第二部分

摘要

目标

由于缺乏现有的全面审查，这项混合方法系统审查的目的是综合有关这一流行病对全球无薪痴呆症护理人员的早期影响的证据。

方法

该评论已在 PROSPERO 上注册 [CDR42021248050]。检索范围为 2020 年至 2021 年 7 月的 PubMed、CINAHL、Embase、Scopus 和 Web of Science。如果研究报告了大流行对 18 岁以上无薪痴呆症护理人员的不同影响，并发表了英语、德语、波兰语、或者西班牙语。许多研究团队成员按照 PRISMA 的指导参与了研究的选择。

结果

来自 18 个国家的 36 项研究（43 篇论文）报告了这一流行病对无薪痴呆症护理人员的早期影响。注意到对获得护理和支持的影响；照顾者负担；和幸福。研究发现，护理人员获得护理和支持服务的机会有限，工作量增加，社会孤立感增强，幸福感下降。具体而言，获得护理和支持的机会减少增加了护理人员的无偿护理任务，消除了任何临时休息的机会，从而进一步增加了护理人员的负担并降低了许多人的心理健康。

结论

在大流行期间，无薪痴呆症护理人员的需求似乎有所增加，但没有提供足够的支持。政策举措需要为无薪护理人员及其患有痴呆症的亲属提供更好的心理健康支持和正式护理服务，同时未来的研究需要根据护理院的限制和护理服务探索护理人员需求的长期影响。