Impact of Social Isolation on People with Dementia and Their Family Caregivers

Background: People with dementia and their family caregivers may face a great burden through social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which can be manifested as various behavioral and clinical symptoms. Objective: To investigate the impacts of social isolation due to the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with dementia and their family caregivers. Methods: Two semi-structured questionnaires were applied via telephone to family caregivers of people diagnosed with dementia in three cities in Argentina, Brazil, and Chile, in order to assess clinical and behavioral changes in people with dementia and in their caregivers. Results: In general, 321 interviews were conducted. A significant decline in memory function has been reported among 53.0%of people with dementia. In addition, 31.2%of individuals with dementia felt sadder and 37.4%had increased anxiety symptoms. These symptoms of anxiety were greater in individuals with mild to moderate dementia, while symptoms of agitation were greater in individuals with severe dementia. Moreover, compulsive-obsessive behavior, hallucinations, increased forgetfulness, altered appetite, and increased difficulty in activities of daily living were reported more frequently among individuals with moderate to severe dementia. Caregivers reported feeling more tired and overwhelmed during this period and these symptoms were also influenced by the severity of dementia. Conclusion: Social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic triggered a series of negative behavioral repercussions, both for people with dementia and for their family caregivers in these three South American countries.Fil: Azevedo, Lílian Viana dos Santos. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Calandri, Ismael Luis. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Slachevsky, Andrea. Universidad de Chile; Chile. Centro de Gerociencia, Salud Mental y Metabolismo; Chile. Universidad del Desarrollo; ChileFil: Graviotto, Héctor Gastón. Unidad Asistencial "Dr. César Milstein"; ArgentinaFil: Santos Vieira, Maria Carolina. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasil. Rede Mater Dei de Saúde; BrasilFil: Bezerra de Andrade, Caíssa. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Peredo Rossetti, Adriana. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasil. Rede Mater Dei de Saúde; BrasilFil: Barroso Generoso, Alana. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasil. Rede Mater Dei de Saúde; BrasilFil: Carvalho Carmona, Karoline. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Cardoso Pinto, Ludmilla Aparecida. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina.; ChileFil: Sorbara, Marcos. Unidad Asistencial "Dr. César Milstein"; ArgentinaFil: Pinto, Alejandra. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina.; ChileFil: Guajardo, Tania. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina.; ChileFil: Olavarria, Loreto. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina.; ChileFil: Thumala, Daniela. Universidad de Chile. Facultad de Medicina.; Chile. Centro de Gerociencia, Salud Mental y Metabolismo; ChileFil: Crivelli, Lucía. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Vivas, Ludmila. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Allegri, Ricardo Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fundación para la Lucha contra las Enfermedades Neurológicas de la Infancia; ArgentinaFil: Tonidandel Barbosa, Maira. Universidad de Chile; Chile. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; BrasilFil: Serrano, Cecilia Mariela. Unidad Asistencial "Dr. César Milstein"; ArgentinaFil: Miranda Castillo, Claudia. Universidad Andrés Bello; Chile. Instituto Milenio para la Investigación de la Depresión; ChileFil: Caramelli, Paulo. Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais; Brasi