Caregiving Challenges During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Findings From the National Poll on Healthy Aging

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for caregivers. This study examines the prevalence of pandemic care challenges (e.g., decreasing care to reduce virus spread, difficulty accessing medical care) and their associations with caregiver mental health and interpersonal well-being in a nationally representative sample of 311 caregivers who participated in the June 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging. We consider seven care challenges and supports as key predictors of caregiver mental health (care-related stress, self-reported mental health, three depressive symptoms) and interpersonal well-being (lack of companionship, isolation) in bivariate tests and ordinary least squares regressions. Each care challenge/support was endorsed by between 13-23% of caregivers. Difficulty getting needed medical care was the most predictive challenge associated with increased caregiver stress, depressive symptoms, and worsened interpersonal well-being. All care challenges predicted an increase in caregiver stress. Effective caregiver tools and supports must consider changing policies and care needs, especially during a pandemic.


POLICY SERIES: UPDATE ON POLLING AND POLICY EFFORTS ON LONELINESS, TELEHEALTH, CAREGIVING, AND ADVANCE CARE PLANNING
Chair: Erica Solway Discussant: Brian Lindberg Older adults and their caregivers experienced dramatic changes in many aspects of their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic which resulted in important shifts in organizational and federal priorities and policies.To explore older adults' changing experiences and perspectives amidst the pandemic, the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA), a recurring, nationally representative household survey, polled over 2,000 adults age 50-80 at multiple timepoints through January 2021 about their feelings of loneliness and use of telehealth.In June 2020, the NPHA also surveyed adults age 50-80 about advance care planning before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and asked family caregivers about their care challenges in the three months since the pandemic.This session will start with a presentation of results from these polls, first exploring change over time in loneliness and telehealth use and then focusing on experiences related to advance care planning and caregiving challenges.Next, presenters from diverse national coalitions and organizations, including the Coalition to End Social Isolation and Loneliness, the National Academy for State Health Policy, the National Alliance for Caregiving, and the Coalition to Transform Advanced Care will describe their organizations' efforts, including their work with research and advocacy partners, state and federal agencies, and the Biden administration to facilitate dialogue and advance activities and policies related to these timely topics.The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA) taps into the perspectives of older adults to inform health care policy and practice using a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 adults age 50-80.Questions about lack of companionship and feelings of loneliness were tracked over three time points; 34% expressed feelings of loneliness in October 2018, 41% in June 2020, and 37% in January 2021.The NPHA also found that use of telehealth increased from 4% in May 2019 to 30% in June 2020 to 43% in January 2021.Finally, the NPHA found that 37% have completed both medical durable power of attorney and advance directive with 7% completing at least one of these documents in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic.These poll results can be used to inform actions by coalitions and organizations to advance state and federal policy.
their organizations' efforts, including their work with research and advocacy partners, state and federal agencies, and the Biden administration to facilitate dialogue and advance activities and policies related to these timely topics.The University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging (NPHA) taps into the perspectives of older adults to inform health care policy and practice using a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 adults age 50-80.Questions about lack of companionship and feelings of loneliness were tracked over three time points; 34% expressed feelings of loneliness in October 2018, 41% in June 2020, and 37% in January 2021.The NPHA also found that use of telehealth increased from 4% in May 2019 to 30% in June 2020 to 43% in January 2021.Finally, the NPHA found that 37% have completed both medical durable power of attorney and advance directive with 7% completing at least one of these documents in the first three months of the COVID-19 pandemic.These poll results can be used to inform actions by coalitions and organizations to advance state and federal policy.


FINDINGS ON LONELINESS, TELEHEALTH, AND ADVANCE CARE PLANNING FROM THE NATIONAL POLL ON HEALTHY AGING


CAREGIVING CHALLENGES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: FINDINGS FROM THE NATIONAL POLL ON HEALTHY AGING

Amanda Leggett, 1 Alicia Carmichael, 2 Natalie Leonard, 2 Jeannette Jackson, 2 Erica Solway, 2 Matthias Kirch, 2 Dianne Singer, 2 and Richard Gonzalez, 2 1.U

nti, Michigan, United States, 2. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States

The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for caregivers.This study ex
The COVID-19 pandemic posed new challenges for caregivers.This study examines the prevalence of pandemic care challenges (e.g., decreasing care to reduce virus spread, difficulty accessing medical care) and their associations with caregiver mental health and interpersonal well-being in a nationally representative sample of 311 caregivers who participated in the June 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging.We consider seven care challenges and supports as key predictors of caregiver mental health (care-related stress, self-reported mental health, three depressive symptoms) and interpersonal well-being (lack of companionship, isolation) in bivariate tests and ordinary least squares regressions.Each care challenge/ support was endorsed by between 13-23% of caregivers.Difficulty getting needed medical care was the most predictive challenge associated with increased caregiver stress, depressive symptoms, and worsened interpersonal well-being.All care challenges predicted an increase in caregiver stress.Effective caregiver tools and supports must consider changing policies and care needs, especially during a pandemic.
mines the prevalence of pandemic care challenges (e.g., decreasing care to reduce virus spread, difficulty accessing medical care) and their associations with caregiver mental health and interpersonal well-being in a nationally representative sample of 311 caregivers who participated in the June 2020 National Poll on Healthy Aging.We consider seven care challenges and supports as key predictors of caregiver mental health (care-related stress, self-reported mental health, three depressive symptoms) and interpersonal well-being (lack of companionship, isolation) in bivariate tests and ordinary least squares regressions.Each care challenge/ support was endorsed by between 13-23% of caregivers.Difficulty getting needed medical care was the most predictive challenge associated with increased caregiver stress, depressive symptoms, and worsened interpersonal well-being.All care challenges predicted an increase in caregiver stress.Effective caregiver tools and supports must consider changing policies and care needs, especially during a pandemic.


EFFORTS BY THE COALITION TO END SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS



Andrew MacPherson, Healthsperien, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Established in the Fall 2018 and based in Washington, D.C., the Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness




Erica Solway, 1 Matthias Kirch, 1 Dianne Singer, 1 Jeffrey Kullgren, 1 Cheryl Lampkin, 2 Teresa Keenan, 2 Alison Bryant, 2 and Preeti Malani, 3 1.University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United S

EFFORTS BY THE COALITION TO END SOCIAL ISOLATION AND LONELINESS
Andrew MacPherson, Healthsperien, Washington, District of Columbia, United States Established in the Fall 2018 and based in Washington, D.C., the Coalition to End Social Isolation & Loneliness Erica Solway, 1 Matthias Kirch, 1 Dianne Singer, 1 Jeffrey Kullgren, 1 Cheryl Lampkin, 2 Teresa Keenan, 2 Alison Bryant, 2 and Preeti Malani, 3 1.University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 2. AARP, Washington, District of Columbia, United States, 3. University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States