COVID impacts Alzheimer’s patients, families

While COVID has been difficult on everyone, it has been especially hard on those with Alzheimer’s or dementia and those who care for them.

“Caregivers at home to someone with dementia who is no longer able to be home alone are presented with the same kinds of challenges as those who are working and have young children who are attending school virtually,” said Julia Faulkner Pechlivanos, executive director of the Northwest Ohio Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association. “These same caregivers, aware of the risk presented by COVID-19 to individuals who are older and may have other health conditions, are now seven months into isolating and taking special precautions not to bring COVID into the home of someone with dementia. Social distancing, masks and proper handwashing can be difficult for people with dementia and for their caregivers to enforce.”

With the concern

of

spreading COVID closing the doors of longterm care facilities to protect the at-risk populations inside, there is another concern for caregivers. Social isolation is difficult to handle for many people but it is especially difficult for those who don’t understand why their family isn’t coming around anymore.

“Those who are living at home with dementia are frequently isolated from activities that improve their quality of life and isolation is a big factor in the rate of cognitive decline,” Pechlivanos said. “In the long-term care setting, those with dementia are not able to receive visitors regularly, or at all depending upon the situation, which is also isolating. For caregivers to those in long-term care, not being able to visit regularly is often tremendously stressful.

“While we don’t have data to support this, we do know that isolation is or can be very detrimental to someone with dementia, leading to depression, anxiety and even more rapid cognitive decline.”

To help those who may be caring for a loved one with dementia, the Alzheimer’s Association offers assistance and support 24-hours a day. Pechlivanos noted that while physical locations for the association have been closed to the public amid the pandemic, services are still being provided virtually online and over the phone.

“Because older individuals are the most vulnerable to COVID-19, the Alzheimer’s Association has moved all of our local services to telephone and online platforms for the foreseeable future,” she said. “At the Alzheimer’s Association, we are available 24/7 to discuss the unique challenges caregivers are facing through our Helpline at 800-2723900 or by calling our local chapter during business hours at 419537-1999.

“We have clinicians available to talk with caregivers who are faced with any type of challenges related to caring for someone with any type of dementia.”