Highlights
- •The primary purpose of the study was to investigate which methods of communication during the COVID-19 pandemic were associated with more positive and less negative emotional experiences and perceptions of resident experiences of family members and friends of older adults in long-term care facilities in the United States.
- •Using the phone more frequently was associated with less negative emotional experiences for participants, and using email more frequently was associated with more positive perceived resident experiences. Having letters delivered more frequently was associated with more participant and perceived resident negative emotions.
- •Connecting with family members and friends in long-term care facilities, especially via phone, may contribute to better emotional experiences for family members, friends, and long-term care residents.
ABSTRACT
Objective
Family visits with residents at long-term care (LTC) facilities have been restricted
during the COVID-19 pandemic. The objective was to examine what communication methods,
other than in-person visits, during the pandemic were associated with greater positive
and lower negative emotional experiences for LTC residents and their family members
and friends.
Design
Cross-sectional.
Setting
Nationally targeted online survey.
Participants
One hundred sixty-one community-dwelling adults who had a family member or friend
in a LTC facility.
Measurements
The Positive and Negative Affect Scale was used to assess participant's own emotions
and perceived resident emotions during the pandemic. Questions were asked about nine
communication methods other than physical visits (e.g., phone, video-conference, e-mail,
and letters) in terms of frequency of use during the pandemic. Sociodemographics,
resident health, and facility factors were assessed and used as covariates where indicated.
Results
During the pandemic, greater phone frequency was associated with less participant
negative emotions (β = −0.17). Greater e-mail frequency was associated with more perceived
resident positive emotions (β = 0.28). Greater frequency of letters delivered by staff
was associated with more participant negative emotions (β = 0.23). Greater frequency
of letters delivered by staff and the postal service were associated with more perceived
resident negative emotions (β = 0.28; β = 0.34, respectively).
Conclusion
These findings highlight the importance of synchronous, familiar methods of communication
like the phone and email between families and LTC residents to maintain their emotional
well-being when in-person visits are restricted.
KEY WORDS
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: September 12, 2020
Accepted:
September 8,
2020
Received in revised form:
August 23,
2020
Received:
May 26,
2020
Identification
Copyright
© 2020 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
