How are Informal Caregivers Adapting to COVID19? Preliminary Results of an Online Survey

COVID19 may disrupt informal caregivers’ (CG) ability to support their care recipients (CR) but little is known how caregivers adapt. A 10-minute, anonymous, online survey with no geographic restrictions was fielded April-August 2020. Two screening items ensured that the respondents were at least 18y and self-identified as a CG. This English-language survey assessed: sociodemographics; reactions to COVID19; changes in CG responsibilities and abilities; depression (Patient Health Questionnaire, PHQ-2); CG burden (Zarit Burden Inventory, ZBI-4); and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder, GAD-2). Univariate analyses determined the proportion of those who screened positive on PHQ-2 (cutoff=3), GAD-2 (cutoff=3), and ZBI-4 (cutoff=8). Of the 314 respondents, 74% lived in USA; 73.5% of caregivers and 48.2% CR were women. While 63.4% were married, only 28% cared for their spouse. CG mainly cared for adults (83%), and reported that 75.0% of their CR had 2+ conditions. 49.6% CG provided >20h of care/wk. Since COVID19, 53% reported an increase in CG responsibilities; 28.0% noted a decrease in income. Many CG screened positive on the ZBI-4 (48.4%), GAD-2 (30.9%), and PHQ-2 (26.8%). 74% worried about contracting COVID19 at least some of the time. 35.0% noted limits to performing all caregiving tasks when they (N=34) or their CR (N=57) were asked to self-isolate/quarantine. 163 (51.9%) CG noted spending less time with their CR, of which 46.4% used alternate means (e.g., telephone calls). Preliminary results show that a plurality of CG had changes in their responsibilities and abilities during COVID19. A sizable proportion also reported poor well-being.