Dementia and COVID-19 pandemia: The situation in various European countries

COVID-19 pandemia means a special threat to elderly patients in nursing homes. Dementia sufferers, who make up most of nursing home clients throughout Europe, have been in a critical situation. They bear a higher risk of delirium when affected by the virus. They often do not understand and easily fo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: G. Stoppe
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Cambridge University Press 2021-04-01
Series:European Psychiatry
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0924933821001127/type/journal_article
Description
Summary:COVID-19 pandemia means a special threat to elderly patients in nursing homes. Dementia sufferers, who make up most of nursing home clients throughout Europe, have been in a critical situation. They bear a higher risk of delirium when affected by the virus. They often do not understand and easily forget, how to use a mask and keep the distance required. In many institutions the elderly were isolated and could not even take their meals together. And finally they do not recognize and even fear nursing staff and other personnel, which has to wear “protective clothes”. Caregivers were told not to visit their loved ones any more.
ISSN:0924-9338
1778-3585