Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - A UK survey of COVID-19 related social support closures and their effects on older people, people with dementia, and carers
AU - Giebel, Clarissa
AU - Lord, Kathryn
AU - Cooper, Claudia
AU - Shenton, Justine
AU - Cannon, Jacqueline
AU - Pulford, Daniel
AU - Shaw, Lisa
AU - Gaughan, Anna
AU - Tetlow, Hilary
AU - Butchard, Sarah
AU - Limbert, Stan
AU - Callaghan, Steve
AU - Whittington, Rosie
AU - Rogers, Carol
AU - Komuravelli, Aravind
AU - Rajagopal, Manoj
AU - Eley, Ruth
AU - Watkins, Caroline
AU - Downs, Murna
AU - Reilly, Siobhan
AU - Ward, Kym
AU - Corcoran, Rhiannon
AU - Bennett, Kate
AU - Gabbay, Mark
N1 - This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
PY - 2021/3/1
Y1 - 2021/3/1
N2 - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this national survey was to explore the impact of COVID-19 public health measures on access to social support services and the effects of closures of services on the mental well-being of older people and those affected by dementia.METHODS: A UK-wide online and telephone survey was conducted with older adults, people with dementia, and carers between April and May 2020.The survey captured demographic and postcode data, social support service usage before and after COVID-19 public health measures, current quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between social support service variations and anxiety and well-being.RESULTS: 569 participants completed the survey (61 people with dementia, 285 unpaid carers, and 223 older adults). Paired samples t-tests and X2 -tests showed that the mean hour of weekly social support service usage and the number of people having accessed various services was significantly reduced post COVID-19. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher variations in social support service hours significantly predicted increased levels of anxiety in people with dementia and older adults, and lower levels of mental well-being in unpaid carers and older adults.CONCLUSIONS: Being unable to access social support services due to COVID contributed to worse quality of life and anxiety in those affected by dementia and older adults across the UK. Social support services need to be enabled to continue providing support in adapted formats, especially in light of continued public health restrictions for the foreseeable future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
AB - OBJECTIVES: The aim of this national survey was to explore the impact of COVID-19 public health measures on access to social support services and the effects of closures of services on the mental well-being of older people and those affected by dementia.METHODS: A UK-wide online and telephone survey was conducted with older adults, people with dementia, and carers between April and May 2020.The survey captured demographic and postcode data, social support service usage before and after COVID-19 public health measures, current quality of life, depression, and anxiety. Multiple linear regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between social support service variations and anxiety and well-being.RESULTS: 569 participants completed the survey (61 people with dementia, 285 unpaid carers, and 223 older adults). Paired samples t-tests and X2 -tests showed that the mean hour of weekly social support service usage and the number of people having accessed various services was significantly reduced post COVID-19. Multiple regression analyses showed that higher variations in social support service hours significantly predicted increased levels of anxiety in people with dementia and older adults, and lower levels of mental well-being in unpaid carers and older adults.CONCLUSIONS: Being unable to access social support services due to COVID contributed to worse quality of life and anxiety in those affected by dementia and older adults across the UK. Social support services need to be enabled to continue providing support in adapted formats, especially in light of continued public health restrictions for the foreseeable future. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
U2 - 10.1002/gps.5434
DO - 10.1002/gps.5434
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 32946619
VL - 36
SP - 393
EP - 402
JO - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
JF - International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
SN - 0885-6230
IS - 3
ER -