Researching the impact of COVID-19 on dementia care

This week we welcome Dr Tamlyn Watermeyer, Research Fellow from Edinburgh University into the hosts chair to talk with a research team, who rapidly responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. Exploring how they adapted to research the impact of COVID-19 on dementia care, and what they have uncovered. People living with dementia has been some of the hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic. In the UK more than a quarter of those who have died had dementia, and an even larger number have been affected societal changes taken to protect people and to keep them safe. Loneliness and isolation are worsening symptoms and this has prompted a response from care services and researchers, to understand how best to help and deliver interventions. At the beginning of 2020, the NIHR and other research funders were fantastic. Very quickly providing funding to support COVID-19 related research. That funding wasn’t only spent on developing treatments and a vaccination, but also on how the virus and the measures taken to keep people safe, were affecting everyday life, society and care. This week’s guests are: Dr Clarissa Giebel, Research Fellow, University of Liverpool Jacqueline Cannon, Chief Executive of The Lewy Body Society Dr Stephen Mason, R&D Lead, Palliative Care Unit, University of Liverpool Along with the host of our show in her own work, Clarissa, Jacqueline and Stephen quickly adapted their research to discover, uncover what was happening within dementia care. To understand what was being done right, what was being doing wrong and what could be done better in the future. _____________________________________________________________________ View Dr Giebel et al. recent paper - COVID-19-related social support service closures and mental well-being in older adults and those affected by dementia: a UK longitudinal survey https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/11/1/e045889.full You can find out more about our panellists, and their work on our website: https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk A transcript of this podcast is also available here https://www.dementiaresearcher.nihr.ac.uk/podcast-researching-the-impact-of-covid-19-on-dementia-care/ _____________________________________________________________________ Like what you hear? Please review, like, and share our podcast - and don't forget to subscribe to ensure you never miss an episode. This podcast is brought to you in association with Alzheimer's Research UK and Alzheimer's Society, who we thank for their ongoing support.