Rural unpaid caregivers' experiences in northern Aotearoa, New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic: A qualitative study.
Covid‐19
caregiver
challenges
opportunities
Journal
The Australian journal of rural health
ISSN: 1440-1584
Titre abrégé: Aust J Rural Health
Pays: Australia
ID NLM: 9305903
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
01 Aug 2024
01 Aug 2024
Historique:
revised:
11
07
2024
received:
04
02
2024
accepted:
15
07
2024
medline:
1
8
2024
pubmed:
1
8
2024
entrez:
1
8
2024
Statut:
aheadofprint
Résumé
Rural unpaid caregivers experience different opportunities and challenges than their urban counterparts. Our aim was to understand rural unpaid caregivers' experiences of challenges and opportunities during the Covid-19 pandemic in New Zealand. Rural northern New Zealand during the Covid-19 pandemic. A convenience sample of 10 unpaid rural caregivers, most supporting an older person living with dementia. A qualitative descriptive design. Data included interviews and online workshops, and a thematic analysis. Rural unpaid caregivers observed that some aspects of living in a rural context were helpful during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, tasks such as shopping and long-distance travel and communication (both telephonic and digital) became more complex. Abrupt changes to routine and closure of resources and support groups created challenges. Unpaid caregivers worried about what would happen if they were hospitalised themselves. There was a diversity of experience both across caregivers, of familiar routines and rural context as resources, increased challenges requiring resourcefulness to adapt, and experiences of crisis. Many experienced all three states at different times. This research provides valuable insights into challenges and opportunities experienced by rural unpaid caregivers during the Covid-19 pandemic and may help policy-makers and healthcare professionals develop improved emergency preparedness. Multilevel, multisector responses are needed to ensure effective health and social support and access to resources including health care, access to groceries and medication, transport, and communications (telephone and digital). Enhancing rural access to effective and inexpensive online services is particularly important, as is recognition of the value of rural sites or hubs of connection and social interaction.
Types de publication
Journal Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Informations de copyright
© 2024 The Author(s). Australian Journal of Rural Health published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of National Rural Health Alliance Ltd.
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