Guidance developed for dementia carers when dealing with COVID-19 infection

Researchers at UCL have developed a decision-making guide for dementia carers, to ensure they can provide the right support and with dignity, should those they care for become infected with coronavirus. Dementia is the most common underlying condition in people who die with COVID-19 - a quarter of COVID-19 deaths have been people living with dementia * . People with dementia and COVID-19 often experience a sudden deterioration and respiratory failure, and the nature of dementia also means that many people with the disease lack the capacity to make their own care choices. During the pandemic , researchers at Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department at UCL, have observed the challenges to carers who can't be with their loved one or person they support, due to visiting restrictions and having to social distance or shield themselves. This often means that dementia carers have to make quick healthcare or legal decisions over the phone with a health professional: someone who may have no knowledge of the care and interventions the person with dementia requires. Co-lead researcher Dr Nuriye Kupeli, Senior Research Fellow at Marie Curie Palliative Care Research Department at UCL said : "As the pandemic evolves, this brings new challenges for people living with dementia and their carers. "Through this work we have found that family carers are having to make difficult decisions on a daily basis.