90% of caregivers of persons with dementia suffer from the burden, including higher levels of loneliness and social isolation
The Atlantic Fellows took initiative to investigate care burdens, loneliness and social isolation in care partners/families of people with neurodegenerative disorders, informing COVID-19 responses internationally. The questionnaire survey that was translated into Arabic, French and Bengali and disseminated in several countries through partnering charities.
More than 80% of people living with dementia or neurodegenerative disorders (NDD) depend on a non-professional care partner or family member for support and care.
Even before COVID-19, more than 90% of NDD care partners experienced a significant burden and higher levels of loneliness and social isolation compared to non-carers. Given that data is essential to eliciting action from governments, care agencies and the community, this group of Fellows investigated the significant secondary impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing on the mental well-being and care burden on care-givers, many of whom are older and physically vulnerable themselves.
"COVID-19 tremendously impacts dementia care, specifically carers’ mental health and burden. The Atlantic Institute funds contributed to understanding the carers’ burden globally, and facilitated the collaboration among Atlantic Fellows from different countries."
Yaohua Chen, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
Based on a Global Brain Health Institute initiative, this project included non-English speaking countries, specifically, Arab, French and Bengali speaking countries. Funding from the Atlantic Institute meant the survey could be translated into three languages, thereby reaching a greater number of identified target groups.
Overall, the survey revealed vital perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on caregivers of a broad range of communities; mental health being a prominent issue for carers of people living with dementia. As expected, responses varied in different countries; those in Egypt were dissimilar to those in Oman or Qatar and were in contrast to the results in Ireland and the United States.
Overall, the survey revealed vital perspectives on the impact of COVID-19 on caregivers of a broad range of communities; mental health being a prominent issue for carers of people living with dementia. As expected, responses varied in different countries; those in Egypt were dissimilar to those in Oman or Qatar and were in contrast to the results in Ireland and the United States.
"Funding for the survey was a tool to face the health inequity challenges posed by the COVID-19 situation, through providing chances to carers from different populations to express their feelings, problems and needs."
Mohamed Salama, Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
"The fund was helpful in evaluating the many and diverse problems of caregivers for people living with dementia during the COVID-19 pandemic across several countries.”
Sanjib Saha,
Atlantic Fellow for Equity in Brain Health
In order to be prepared for any future global public health crises and their impact on dementia care-givers, we need to learn from the COVID-19 pandemic. This study gives us the opportunity to do that; it is but one approach - the analysis of the data will give us a better understanding of the range of impacts of future pandemics on dementia care-givers. It also allows us to develop a strategy to mitigate these impacts.
Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Health Equity US + Global
Racial Equity
Social Equity
Health Equity in South Africa
Equity in Brain Health
Social and Economic Equity
130 Fellows, 7 global Atlantic programs. Together, these leaders catalyze meaningful change around the world. Over four days in July 2019, 130 Atlantic Fellows from all seven global Atlantic programs participated in the inaugural annual Convening of Atlantic Fellows in Oxford. The event focused on catalytic conversations in leadership and equity with the overarching goal of Fellows making meaningful connections across their diverse cultures, languages and disciplines.
Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Health Equity US + Global
Racial Equity
Social Equity
Health Equity in South Africa
Equity in Brain Health
Social and Economic Equity
Leadership development is a $366 billion industry — an amount that could solve global poverty many times over — yet its ethnocentric and academic approach is largely ineffective. The paradox of spending billions on leadership development, instead of investing those funds directly to resolve the problems such programs endeavor to resolve, inspired us to begin the significant and complex journey of changing the narrative.
Equity in Brain Health
Eastern Mediterranean societies are adversely impacted by the global brain health crisis. The East Mediterranean Brain Health Initiative promotes equitable access to essential resources, including education, early detection, preventative healthcare, and long-term care services. Atlantic Fellows collaborated across borders and disciplines, leveraging existing networks and expertise in the East Mediterranean region to promote fairer, more equitable societies for people living with dementia.
Equity in Brain Health
Social and Economic Equity
Loneliness is a silent killer. Even deadlier in a post-pandemic world of increased isolation. 90% of caregivers of persons with dementia suffer from the burden, including higher levels of loneliness and social isolation. A group of Atlantic Fellows took initiative to investigate care burdens, loneliness and social isolation in care partners/families of people with neurodegenerative disorders, informing COVID-19 responses internationally.
Social Equity
Health Equity US + Global
Healthcare workers on the frontlines must be able to speak up for their patients’ needs—as well as their own. However, many lack the storytelling abilities they need to demand equitable treatment and change policies in their disenfranchised communities. Three Atlantic Fellows formed the empowering disenfranchised communities with storytelling group to develop a toolkit for health workers at the front line of COVID-19.
Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Health Equity US + Global
Social Equity
Health Equity in South Africa
Equity in Brain Health
Social and Economic Equity
The global movement of displaced people is a defining feature of our times. Yet most of the narratives surrounding it are trapped in the language of vilification and crisis, limiting our capacity to engage with the issue humanely. In 2019, a group of Atlantic Fellows came together to create a space to understand and engage with the common humanity inherent in the stories of the displaced.
Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Health Equity US + Global
Equity in Brain Health
Rights awareness and legal resources are critical to supporting communities that are disproportionately impacted by societal inequities, especially in the criminal justice system. A cohort of four Atlantic Fellows collaborated on how to promote access to this vital information. As leaders in their communities, Fellows can promote awareness and access to legal resources to those who need it most.
Health Equity in Southeast Asia
Health Equity US + Global
Lack of access to mental health care for young Filipinos, particularly in remote areas, is deadly. Attempted youth suicides and deaths have risen sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is critical to combat social stigma around seeking mental health support and to provide that support, such as suicide prevention programs.Atlantic Fellows in the Philippines collaborated to advance policy reform to improve access to essential life-saving resources.
Associate professor and associate director, Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, The American University in Cairo
Ph.D. candidate, University of Western Cape
Global ambassador for education programs; and research assistant, Incarceration Nations Network
Program manager, The Oxford Character Project, University of Oxford
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