Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact
(1) Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been harmed by the coronavirus, and older adults have remained isolated for a long time with many restrictions. The aim of this study was to measure the decline in cognitive, functional, and affective status in a care facility after the lockdown...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/986 |
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| author | Arturo X. Pereiro Carlos Dosil-Díaz Romina Mouriz-Corbelle Silvia Pereira-Rodríguez Ana Nieto-Vieites Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis Carolina Pinazo-Clapés David Facal |
| author_facet | Arturo X. Pereiro Carlos Dosil-Díaz Romina Mouriz-Corbelle Silvia Pereira-Rodríguez Ana Nieto-Vieites Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis Carolina Pinazo-Clapés David Facal |
| author_sort | Arturo X. Pereiro |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | (1) Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been harmed by the coronavirus, and older adults have remained isolated for a long time with many restrictions. The aim of this study was to measure the decline in cognitive, functional, and affective status in a care facility after the lockdown in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare it with previous measures in order to determine if this decline was accelerated. (2) Methods: Ninety-eight participants were recruited. Data from three retrospective pre-lockdown assessments and an additional post-lockdown assessment were analyzed. Mixed ANOVA analyses were performed according to the Clinical Dementia Rating levels, considering social-contact frequency during the lockdown as a covariate. (3) Results: The cognitive and functional scores were lower and depression scores were higher after the strict lockdown, accelerating a general pattern of decline that was already present in LTCF residents. The frequency of social contact eliminated the measurement differences in the cognitive and functional scores and the group differences in depression scores. (4) Conclusions: The effects of the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown in an LTCF were mediated by the frequency of contact. Clinical implications: Preventive measures must be taken to ensure social contact with relatives and friends and reduce the negative consequences of social isolation in LTCFs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:58:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-bccdc942511e442a8273f3e5a7b5a570 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T08:58:45Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj.art-bccdc942511e442a8273f3e5a7b5a5702023-11-22T06:58:22ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252021-07-0111898610.3390/brainsci11080986Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social ContactArturo X. Pereiro0Carlos Dosil-Díaz1Romina Mouriz-Corbelle2Silvia Pereira-Rodríguez3Ana Nieto-Vieites4Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis5Carolina Pinazo-Clapés6David Facal7Department of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainGerontological Therapeutic Complex “A Veiga”, Serge Lucense, 27360 Láncara, SpainDepartment of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, SpainDepartment of Social Psychology, Universitat de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Developmental Psychology, Universitat de Valencia, 46010 Valencia, SpainDepartment of Developmental Psychology, University of Santiago de Compostela, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, Spain(1) Background: Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) have been harmed by the coronavirus, and older adults have remained isolated for a long time with many restrictions. The aim of this study was to measure the decline in cognitive, functional, and affective status in a care facility after the lockdown in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and to compare it with previous measures in order to determine if this decline was accelerated. (2) Methods: Ninety-eight participants were recruited. Data from three retrospective pre-lockdown assessments and an additional post-lockdown assessment were analyzed. Mixed ANOVA analyses were performed according to the Clinical Dementia Rating levels, considering social-contact frequency during the lockdown as a covariate. (3) Results: The cognitive and functional scores were lower and depression scores were higher after the strict lockdown, accelerating a general pattern of decline that was already present in LTCF residents. The frequency of social contact eliminated the measurement differences in the cognitive and functional scores and the group differences in depression scores. (4) Conclusions: The effects of the SARS-CoV-2 lockdown in an LTCF were mediated by the frequency of contact. Clinical implications: Preventive measures must be taken to ensure social contact with relatives and friends and reduce the negative consequences of social isolation in LTCFs.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/986SARS-CoV-2crisisnursing homesolder adultssocial isolation |
| spellingShingle | Arturo X. Pereiro Carlos Dosil-Díaz Romina Mouriz-Corbelle Silvia Pereira-Rodríguez Ana Nieto-Vieites Sacramento Pinazo-Hernandis Carolina Pinazo-Clapés David Facal Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact Brain Sciences SARS-CoV-2 crisis nursing homes older adults social isolation |
| title | Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact |
| title_full | Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact |
| title_fullStr | Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact |
| title_short | Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on a Long-Term Care Facility: The Role of Social Contact |
| title_sort | impact of the covid 19 lockdown on a long term care facility the role of social contact |
| topic | SARS-CoV-2 crisis nursing homes older adults social isolation |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/11/8/986 |
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