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. 2021 Jun;112(3):400-411.
doi: 10.17269/s41997-021-00500-z. Epub 2021 Apr 6.

A scoping review of COVID-19 experiences of people living with dementia

Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu  1 , Megan E O'Connell  2 , Claire Webster  3 , Lisa Poole  4 , Mary Beth Wighton  4 , Saskia Sivananthan  5
Affiliations

A scoping review of COVID-19 experiences of people living with dementia

Juanita-Dawne R Bacsu et al. Can J Public Health. 2021 Jun.

Abstract
in English, French

Objectives: Compared with the general population, people living with dementia have been unequivocally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is a paucity of knowledge on the COVID-19 impact on people with dementia and their care partners. The objective of this scoping review was to synthesize the existing literature on the COVID-19 experiences of people with dementia and their care partners.

Methods: Following Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework, we searched five electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, and Web of Science) and an online search engine (Google Scholar). Inclusion criteria consisted of English-language articles focusing on the COVID-19 experiences of people with dementia and their care partners.

Synthesis: Twenty-one articles met our inclusion criteria: six letters to the editor, seven commentaries, and eight original research studies. In the literature, five main themes were identified: (i) care partner fatigue and burnout; (ii) lack of access to services and supports; (iii) worsening neuropsychiatric symptoms and cognitive function; (iv) coping with COVID-19; and (v) the need for more evidence-informed research. Factors such as living alone, having advanced dementia, and the length of confinement were found to exacerbate the impact of COVID-19.

Conclusion: Urgent action is needed to support people living with dementia and their care partners in the pandemic. With little access to supports and services, people with dementia and their care partners are currently at a point of crisis. Collaboration and more evidence-informed research are critical to reducing mortality and supporting people with dementia during the pandemic.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIFS: Comparativement à la population générale, les personnes vivant avec la démence ont incontestablement été touchées par la pandémie de COVID-19. On en sait toutefois peu sur l’effet de la COVID-19 sur les personnes atteintes de démence et leurs partenaires soignants. Notre étude de champ visait à résumer la littérature existante sur l’expérience de la COVID-19 chez les personnes atteintes de démence et leurs partenaires soignants. MéTHODE: En suivant le cadre méthodologique d’Arksey et O’Malley pour les études de champ, nous avons interrogé cinq bases de données électroniques (Scopus, PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE et Web of Science) et un moteur de recherche en ligne (Google Scholar). Nous avons inclus tous les articles en anglais portant sur l’expérience de la COVID-19 chez les personnes atteintes de démence et leurs partenaires soignants. SYNTHèSE: Vingt et un articles ont correspondu à nos critères d’inclusion : six lettres publiées dans le courrier des lecteurs, sept commentaires et huit études de recherche originales. Cinq grands thèmes sont ressortis de ces articles : i) la fatigue et l’épuisement professionnel des partenaires soignants; ii) le manque d’accès aux services et aux mesures d’aide; iii) l’aggravation des symptômes neuropsychiatriques et des fonctions cognitives; iv) les façons de faire face à la COVID-19; et v) le besoin de plus de recherche fondée sur les preuves. Nous avons constaté que trois facteurs, soit le fait de vivre seul(e), la démence avancée et la durée du confinement, exacerbaient l’effet de la COVID-19. CONCLUSION: Une action urgente est nécessaire pour aider les personnes vivant avec la démence et leurs partenaires soignants durant la pandémie. N’ayant guère accès aux mesures d’aide et aux services, les personnes atteintes de démence et leurs partenaires soignants se trouvent actuellement dans une situation de crise. La collaboration et la recherche fondée sur les preuves sont essentielles pour réduire la mortalité et aider les personnes atteintes de démence durant la pandémie.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; COVID-19; Coronavirus; Dementia; Synthesis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Figures

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