Resources and Services for Family Caregivers in the Time of COVID-19

COVID-19 has led to increased burden on family caregivers (FCGs) for people living with dementia (PLWD), while simultaneously limiting the resources available to them. Our study surveyed Alberta, Canada FCGs to assess their needs and generate recommendations to inform policies about care access, resources, and agency supports. We conducted a mixed methods study using a sequential triangulation design (QUANTITATIVE + qualitative). Our Community Advisory Committee was involved in all stages of study planning, execution, and dissemination. Survey results informed the qualitative data collected from focus groups with FCGs. A total of 230 FCGs participated in the survey, with an average age of 59. The average age of PLWD was 75. The majority were women (77%), 46% were spouses and 41% were adult children. Respondents reported feeling more isolated (69%), more strain (66%) and decreased quality of life (55%) compared to pre-pandemic. Resource use by FCGs decreased from an average of 5 resources pre-pandemic to 1.6 during COVID-19. Services including day programs and home care were no longer available or reconfigured, leading to greater strain and heightened need for respite, which was also unavailable. Focus groups highlighted that system navigation and accessing services during COVID-19 was overly burdensome, leaving FCGs feeling abandoned by the system. FCGs reported an increase in caregiving responsibility and less access to services resulting in PLWD experiencing a decline in wellness and function. As such: 1) resources should be consistently available for FCGs and 2) FCGs require clear, correct, and concise information about COVID-19.

Challenges and Opportunities From COVID-19 vis-à-vis Informal Cross-Border Women Entrepreneurs Scenario in Zimbabwe

Although entrepreneurship is widely accepted as a driver of economic development and growth across the globe, the COVID-19 pandemic and several lockdowns have created a unique situation in the entrepreneurship discourse. Accordingly, this chapter aims at providing empirical evidence on the challenges and opportunities emanating from COVID-19 within the context of informal cross-border women entrepreneurs. This study establishes five challenges, namely, business closures, caregiving responsibility, the decline in demand, shortage of goods, and liquidity crisis. Moreover, it also establishes digital marketing and business networks as opportunities. The recommendations to deal with these challenges are proffered and the suggestions for further study are captured.

The Effects of Caregiving on Leisure Time Physical Activity in a Cohort of Manufacturing Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background While leisure time physical activity (LTPA) has been linked to a myriad of health benefits, many individuals do not get enough LTPA. In this study, we investigated how caregiving responsibilities (for children, adults under age 65, and adults over age 65) affected components of LTPA including exercise, walking, gardening, and housework in a population of manufacturing workers. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed among 857 manufacturing workers who completed a survey assessing caregiving responsibility and LTPA. Linear regression analyses were used to test for associations between caregiving and LTPA. Results We observed that caregivers for children reported significantly (p < 0.05) fewer hours of exercise and walking, but more hours of housework, than non-caregivers. We observed no association between caregiving for adults under age 65 or adults aged 65 and older and exercise or walking. Caring for adults under age 65 was associated with a significant (p < 0.05) increase in hours spent gardening, and caring for adults aged 65 and older was associated with a significant increase in hours spent performing housework. Conclusions We identified associations between caregiving and physical activity in a population of manufacturing workers. Our results support the development of targeted interventions to promote health in working caregiver populations.

Long-Lasting Effects of the 2013 Yolanda Typhoon on Overall Health of Mothers and Children

ABSTRACT Objectives: Three years after the 2013 Yolanda Typhoon, this study sought to determine the factors associated with the stress of the affected mothers and the health of the children on Leyte island, and the preparedness of the community to mitigate future potential disasters. Methods: Three hundred mothers with children from 0 to 7 years old were selected through convenience sampling, structured interviews conducted using the Hurricane-Related Traumatic Experiences questionnaire and the PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) Checklist 5 (PCL5), and the children’s weights and heights were measured. Results: The provisional PTSD prevalence was found to be 53.3% 3 y after Yolanda. The multiple regression analysis with multiple imputation for the missing values found that housing and childcare attitudes were significantly associated with preparedness. Conclusions: This study concluded that living in multistoried houses was useful for disaster mitigation and that the caregiving responsibility for their children could be a disaster preparedness motivation for mothers.

Hysterical inquiry: A methodology emergent through a dutiful daughter

This article theorises hysterical inquiry as an emergent methodology for feminist psychological research. Our example is based on a daughter’s experience of caring for her dying mother. During this process, it becomes apparent that she is only present as caregiver—her mother/daughter encounter has been suppressed by contemporary discourses of caregiving responsibility. Drawing on Freud, Lacan, and feminist theories of psychoanalysis, the daughter undertakes an hysterical quest to locate her missing encounter with her mother. Traversing language structure, she embarks on various journeys, disruptions, and distractions as a network of methodological strategies emerge; speaking eloquently, silently writing, rhythmically weaving her textural engagement with the terrain. As her questions and her scope of inquiry expands, we illustrate the emergence of hysterical inquiry as a viable methodology to address questions treated as invalid within traditional research methodologies.

Predictors of Future Caregiving by Adult Siblings of Individuals With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

With the growing life expectancy for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, siblings will increasingly assume responsibility for the care of their brother or sister with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Using a 163-item survey completed by 757 siblings, the authors identified factors related to future caregiving expectations. Siblings expected to assume greater caregiving responsibility for their brother or sister with disabilities if they were female, had closer relationships with and lived closer to their brother or sister with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and were the lone sibling without a disability. Siblings who expected to assume higher levels of caregiving had parents who were currently more able to care for their brother or sister with disabilities. With a better understanding of who intends to fulfill future caregiving roles, support can be provided to these siblings.

Involvement of Adult Siblings of Persons With Developmental Disabilities in Future Planning

This study examined factors influencing involvement of siblings of individuals with developmental disabilities in future planning and their expectation of future caregiving. The sample consisted of 139 adult siblings recruited from an online sibling list and a sibling conference. Results indicated that few families made plans or involved siblings in the planning. Siblings who were most involved in future planning were older, more involved in disability activities, and provided more support to their sibling with disabilities. About 38% of siblings expected to be primary caregivers and were more likely to expect this role if the sibling with a disability lived closer and was female, had more sibling contact, provided them with more support, and felt greater caregiving satisfaction. Major support needs of siblings were for support groups, workshops–training on how to assume caregiving responsibility, financial support, and printed material on making future plans.