JMIR Publications

ABSTRACT

Background:

Latinos experience disparities in the care of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) and have disproportionately high COVID-19 infection and death outcomes.

Objective:

We aimed to gain an in-depth understanding of the impact and resilience factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic among Latino families with ADRD.

Methods:

This is a qualitative study of 21 informal caregivers of Latinos with ADRD and 24 primary care providers who serve Latinos. We recruited participants nationwide using convenience and snowball sampling methods and conducted remote interviews in English and Spanish. We organized the transcripts for qualitative review to identify codes and themes, using a pragmatic approach, a qualitative description methodology, and thematic analysis methods.

Results:

Qualitative analysis of transcripts revealed two themes: The impact of a global pandemic (e.g., accelerated cognitive and physical decline, or caregivers choosing between risking finances and the family’s infection given the work situation) and Developing resilience to the effects of the pandemic (e.g., caregivers seeking vaccination sites, moving in with the care recipient and adopting telehealth).

Conclusions:

Latino families with ADRD were impacted beyond infections and death. Both informal and formal supports were partly disrupted during the pandemic but were key for these families’ survival and quality of life. To buffer this impact in the future, there is a need for more equitable access to health care and social services, a better quality of these services, subsidized formal and informal supports, and flexible hybrid means of communication.