Providing Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of Formal Caregivers in Long-Term Care Facilities in Chile

Araya, Alejandra-Ximena; Palacios, Josefa; Oyanedel, Francisca; Iriarte, Evelyn

Providing Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Experience of Formal Caregivers in Long-Term Care Facilities in Chile

Date

2023

Authors

Araya, Alejandra-Ximena

Palacios, Josefa

Oyanedel, Francisca

Iriarte, Evelyn

Abstract

The current study aimed to identify the main challenges to formal caregivers from different long-term care facilities (LTCFs) that care for older adults (aged >= 60 years) in Chile during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. Chile's national LTCF gov-erning body (SENAMA) sent a survey to 1,190 LTCFs, receiving 996 responses. LTCF characteristics were number of residents, certification with SENAMA, licensure, geographic zone, and poverty level. Four dimensions were assessed: (a) concerns, (b) challenges, (c) needs, and (d) opportunities for improvement. The majority of respondents replied negatively to these four dimensions. Among those who re-sponded positively, the fear of infecting a loved one, staff shortages and overwork, the need for access to psychological support, and improving payments were among formal caregivers' primary concerns. Targeting supportive interventions for formal caregivers, clinically and psychologically, is essential to preserve caregivers' health. [Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 49(5), 39-44.]