Social support services for dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey exploring service adaptations in the United Kingdom

Caprioli, T, Giebel, C, Reilly, S, Tetlow, H, Limbert, S and Lloyd-Williams, M (2023) Social support services for dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic: A longitudinal survey exploring service adaptations in the United Kingdom. Health Expectations, 26 (4). pp. 1726-1737. ISSN 1369-6513

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Abstract

Objectives
To understand how the delivery of dementia-related social support services across the UK adapted during the pandemic.

Methods
We devised a two-part online and telephone longitudinal survey. Providers participated between March and June 2021, and again 3 months later. Information relating to services delivered and delivery methods employed was collected before and during the pandemic at two timepoints (T1 and T2).

Results
A total of 75 participants completed the survey at T1, with 58 participants completing the survey at both timepoints. Thirty-six participants had complete data at T1. Day care centres and support groups were the most delivered primary services. During the pandemic, services shifted from in-person to remote or hybrid. While in-person services started to resume at T2, most services remained hybrid. At T2, the frequency of service delivery increased, however, a decreasing trend in usage was observed across survey timepoints. The telephone was the most employed format to deliver remote and hybrid services, however, reliance on videoconferencing software significantly increased at T1. Videoconferencing software was often used alongside the telephone and emails to remotely deliver services.

Conclusions
Services were able to adapt and provide support to some service recipients. Complementing novel approaches to service delivery with more traditional formats may facilitate access to service recipients with limited digital literacy. Following the easing of public health measures, many service recipients may be reluctant to engage with in-person services. Thus, the provision of in-person and remote services needs to be carefully balanced amidst the current hybrid landscape.

Patient or Public Contribution
Two public advisors (a former unpaid carer and a person living with dementia) were involved in designing and piloting the tool, interpreting the results and disseminating the findings. Both public advisors have experience in delivering dementia-related social support services before and or during the pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	COVID-19 pandemic; dementia; postdiagnostic support; social care; social support services; Humans; Dementia; Social Support; Pandemics; United Kingdom; COVID-19; COVID-19 pandemic; dementia; postdiagnostic support; social care; social support services; Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Social Support; United Kingdom; Dementia; 4203 Health Services and Systems; 42 Health Sciences; Telehealth; Coronaviruses; Coronaviruses Disparities and At-Risk Populations; Health Services; Neurosciences; Clinical Research; Behavioral and Social Science; Neurodegenerative; 7.1 Individual care needs; 3 Good Health and Well Being; Humans; COVID-19; Pandemics; Social Support; United Kingdom; Dementia; 1110 Nursing; 1117 Public Health and Health Services; 1701 Psychology; Public Health; 4203 Health services and systems; 4206 Public health
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine > RA0421 Public health. Hygiene. Preventive Medicine R Medicine > RT Nursing H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology > HV697 Protection, assistance and relief
Divisions:	Nursing, Public and Allied Health
Publisher:	Wiley
Date of acceptance:	16 May 2023
Date of first compliant Open Access:	10 September 2026
Date Deposited:	10 Sep 2026 13:46
Last Modified:	10 Sep 2026 13:46
DOI or ID number:	10.1111/hex.13784
URI:	https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/29381

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