Effect of COVID-19 restrictions on older adults with Parkinson’s disease in North Angus


By Dr J Hart, NHS Tayside & Dr Ian Logan, Angus Health and Social Care Partnership

Poster

Aim

To better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic and associated restrictions have affected people with PD in North Angus.

Headlines

  • Roughly half of older adults with OD have experiences a deterioration in mobility, function, mood, and memory during the pandemic
  • It is possible that some of this could have been avoided through strategies and measures to
  • ensure they remained physically active and socially engaged
  • the majority of participants felt safer as a result of actions, such as shielding, and would make the same choices again

Key findings

A total of 20 people took part in a survey, conducted over the phone or by video call. Of these, 13 took part alone, five answered with the support of a carer, and two carers answered on behalf of the patient.

Key findings included:

  • 10 people said there had been a change in their PD. Of these, two said medication changes had led to an improvement
  • 16 said there had been a change in their walking, 11 recognised a change in mood, and eight recorded a change in memory
  • Nine said there had been a change in their ability to perform self-care and 11 recorded a change in their independence levels
  • 18 were shielding and 17 felt safer for spending more time at home

Recommendations

  • Repeat the survey across the rest of Angus to examine if others had a different experience of lockdown
  • further explore whether people felt adequately supported by the PD service
  • share the survey with colleagues in primary and secondary care for future learning

More Parkinson's Academy COVID-19 Projects

Loneliness and Social Isolation in people with Parkinson’s Disease during COVID-19 restrictions
By Dr Somaditya Bandyopadhyay, Staff Grade Physician (Geriatrics), Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust
How has covid 19 affected community services for patients with Parkinson’s disease in the Wakefield area?
By Dr Rebecca Burns, Consultant Care of the Elderly, Mid Yorkshire Hospitals NHS Trust
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Parkinson's Academy, our original and longest running Academy, houses 22 years of inspirational projects, resources, and evidence for improving outcomes for people with Parkinson's. Led by co-founder and educational director Dr Peter Fletcher, the Academy has a truly collegiate feel and prides itself on delivering 'the things you can't get from books' - a practical learning model which inspires all Neurology Academy courses.