Table 1 List of included studies, with the country of origin, general method, participants sample, number of participants, outcomes of interest, scales used (if any), and overview of the results
Primary study First author (Year) | Country | Design | Population | Sample | Outcome(s) | Scale(s) used (if any) | Results Overview |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aguilar et al. (2021) | USA | Longitudinal 3 time point, 6 weeks apart | NH resident | 46 | Anxiety, Depression | Geriatric Depression Scale, Geriatric Anxiety Inventory | No change on depression score, Lower anxiety score from T0 to T1, and then stay stable |
Arpacioglu et al. (2021) | Turkey | Cross-sectional | NH resident & Older people living in autonomy | 133 (66 NH residents, 67 auto.) | Depression, Anxiety, Stress | DASS-21, Satisfaction with life Scale | Stress, anxiety, depression higher in 80 + years people compared to 80- people. Higher depression, anxiety, and fear of death for NH residents compared to people living in autonomy |
Ayalon et al. (2021) | Israel | Qualitative | NH residents | 24 | Experience of Lockdown | Residents reported a decrease in their overall wellbeing and high levels of depression. The loss of autonomy due to protection measure was also detrimental to their wellbeing. | |
Backhaus et al. (2021) | Netherlands | Qualitative | NH residents | 64 | Family visitation, Wellbeing | Five months after the end of the first lockdown, rates of visits were still lower than before the pandemic. Residents reported heightened wellbeing when relatives could visit them. | |
Borg et al. (2021) | France | Cross-sectional | Relatives | 159 | Anxiety, Depression, Caregiver Burden | General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7, Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale, Zarit Burden Interview | Relatives of older people living in nursing home had heightened levels of depressive symptoms, anxiety, and sleep trouble than relatives who lived with their close elderly people. |
Chen et al. (2021) | China | Intervention | NH residents with mild CI1 2 groups: Control and Intervention | 62 | Depression, Physical Functioning | Geriatric Depression Scale | Positive impact of a physical exercise program on depression symptoms, quality of life and physical functions in NH residents with mild cognitive impairment |
Chirico et al. (2022) | Italia | Qualitative | Relatives | 26 | Experience of Lockdown | COVID-19 restrictions had detrimental impact on relatives and their residents. Although videoconference tools were useful to alleviate that, there was limitations such as the capacity of residents to use these tools. | |
Curran et al. (2022) | Australia | Longitudinal 3 time points: before, during and just after the lockdown | NH resident | 91 | neuropsychiatric symptoms | NPI-NH | No impact of lockdown on neuropsychiatric symptoms prevalence |
Danilovich et al. (2020) | USA | Secondary data analysis | NH residents | 166 | Weight change | Significant weight loss during the lockdown | |
Dupuis-Blanchard et al. (2021) | Canada | Qualitative | Relatives | 17 | Experience of Lockdown | Relatives reported that they had difficulties regarding communication with NH staff. They were sometimes in the dark regarding the actual restrictions put in place. In addition, they reported the detrimental impact the restriction had on the wellbeing of their residents. | |
Egeljic-Mihailovic et al. (2021) | Serbia | Cross-sectional | NH resident & Older people living in autonomy | 299 (110 NH residents; 189 auto.) | Depression, social participation | Geriatric Depression Scale, Maastricht Social Participation Profile | Higher levels of depression in NH residents compared to people living in autonomy. Higher levels of depression of people living in urban areas compared to rural areas. Negative correlation between GDS and social participation |
El Haj et al. (2020) | France | Cross-sectional | NH resident with CI1 | 58 | Depression, Anxiety | Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale | Anxiety and depression levels were higher during lockdown than previously |
El Haj et al. (2021) | France | Cross-sectional | NH resident with CI1 | 72 | Depression | Home-made Scale | Higher depression levels during lockdown than previously |
Fogelson et al. (2021) | USA | Intervention | NH residents | 18 | Loneliness, Depression | Global Deterioration Scale, Geriatric Depression Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale | Robotic pets decreased depression symptoms and feeling of loneliness in NH residents |
Hindmarch et al. (2021) | Canada | Qualitative | Relatives | 70 | Role of Family Caregivers | Relatives reported wanting to have always access in some way to the NH, even though they would need to use stricter protection measures (distance, mask, etc.). Videoconference tools were not adapted to all residents. | |
Hoel et al. (2022) | Germany | Mixed | NH direction | 417 | Social Health, videoconference tool usage | Although videoconference tools were used to minimize social isolation of residents, there was several limiting factors to their use. Resident must have the cognitive capacity sot use them, must have learned to use them and must have support to help them use these tools. | |
Huber et al. (2022) | Switzerland | Cross-sectional | NH residents | 828 | Loneliness, satisfaction with life | Home-made scales | Heightened feelings of solitude during the lockdown |
Kaelen et al. (2021) | Belgium | Qualitative | NH residents | 56 | Mental Health, Psychosocial Needs | The lockdown had detrimental effect on residents’ wellbeing. Psychosocial factors must be considered as potential source of suffering and must be evaluated via specific diagnostic tools | |
Koopmans et al. (2021) | Netherlands | Qualitative | NH staff & Residents’ relatives | 72 staff, 73 relatives | Monitoring reopening | Lockdown lifting had substantial beneficial impact | |
Leontowitsc et al. (2021) | Germany | Qualitative | NH residents | 22 | Experience of Lockdown | Lack of social contact was difficult for the residents. Several participants reported that protecting against COVID-19 was not their top one priority; contact with family and overall wellbeing was more important. | |
Levere et al. (2021) | USA | Cross-sectional | NH residents | 29,097 | Weight loss, mental health, Cognitive functioning | Patient Health Questionnaire | Higher depression symptoms during lockdown than previously, significant cognitive decline during the first phase of the lockdown. |
McArthur et al. (2021) | Canada | Longitudinal 3 time points Before, during and after the lockdown | NH residents | 765 | Depression, Behavioral problems | InterRAI | No impact of lockdown on rates of depression, delirium, or behavioral problems |
Monin et al. (2020) | USA | Cross-sectional | Relatives | 161 | Mood, method of communication with Residents | Home-made Scale | Higher frequency of telephone between relatives and residents resulted in lower levels of negative emotions. Keeping contact with their residents was worrying for the relatives. |
Murphy et al. (2022) | Ireland | Qualitative | NH residents | 10 | Experience of Lockdown | Residents felt that their physical health should not be protected at all costs and that social and cognitive stimulation must be taken into balance to design protection measure. | |
Nair et al. (2021) | Malaysia | Cross-sectional | NH residents | 224 | Depression, Anxiety, Social Support | Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support | Very high prevalence of depression symptoms during lockdown, high prevalence of anxiety symptoms. Lower levels of social support compared to pre-pandemic levels. |
Nash et al. (2021) | USA | Qualitative | Relatives | 518 | Experience of Lockdown | Relatives reported that they suffered due to seeing their relative decline rapidly due to the lockdown. They treated isolation as inhumane, and reported that the lack of surveillance from the staff was the main reason they worried. | |
NG et al. (2020) | Singapore | Qualitative | NH residents | 17 | Physical activity, Experience of lockdown | Barriers to physical activity: closure of exercise facility, cancellation of group PA, and lack of equipment. | |
Noten et al. (2022) | Netherlands | Qualitative | Residents & Relatives | 63 | Experience of Lockdown | Relatives and residents described the lockdown as a difficult time, due to the social isolation induced by the protection measures. Although both groups understood why they were put in place, they still found isolation measure very harsh. | |
O’Caoimh et al. (2020) | Ireland | Cross-sectional | Relatives | 225 | Loneliness, Wellbeing, Quality of Life | UCLA Brief Loneliness Scale, WHO-5 Wellbeing Index, Adult Care QoL Questionnaire | Support for the relatives as caregivers was poor during the lockdown, which impacted the wellbeing of relatives. |
Paananen et al. (2021) | Finland | Qualitative | Relatives | 41 | Experience of Lockdown | Relatives reported negative impact of the protection measure on their relationship with their resident. Many reported physical as well as cognitive deterioration during the lockdown. | |
Pereiro et al. (2021) | Spain | Longitudinal 4 time points: 3 during lockdown and one after | NH residents | 98 | Depression, Social Contact | Geriatric Depression Scale | Social contact attenuates the detrimental impact of lockdown on depression symptoms |
Perez-Rodriguez et al. (2021) | Spain | Cross-sectional | NH residents | 435 | Nutrition, Cognitive functioning | Barthel Index, Global Deterioration Scale | Worsening of the functional, cognitive, emotional and nutritional status of NH residents. No impact whether they contracted COVID-19 or not on these outcomes. |
Pinazo-Hernandis et al. (2022) | Spain | Intervention | NH residents | 34 | Mood, Depression, Anxiety, Loneliness | Gierveld’s Loneliness Scale, Goldberg’s Depression and Anxiety Scale | Positive impact of a reminiscence program on feeling of loneliness, depression & anxiety symptoms, and positive & negative affects |
Plangger et al. (2022) | Austria | Longitudinal 4 time points: 2 before lockdown and 2 after | NH residents | 48 | Depression, Anxiety, Quality of Life | Geriatric Depression Scale, Beck’s Anxiety Inventory | Increase in depression and anxiety symptoms during the lockdown, and then decrease after reopening. |
Prins et al. (2021) | Netherlands | Cross-sectional | Relatives | 958 | Worries, Loneliness | Home-made Scales | Relatives that visited more than once a week had higher levels of worries than other relatives. This was modulated by the resilience of the relatives, with more resilient relatives having less worries. |
Savci et al. (2021) | Turkey | Cross-sectional | NH residents | 103 | Loneliness, Quality of Life, fear of COVID-19 | Loneliness Scale for Elderly, WHOQOL-BREF | Fear of COVID-19 was heightened for people with high levels of social relation and higher quality of life. |
Sizoo et al. (2022) | Netherlands | Longitudinal 4 time points: Once a month after the lockdown | NH residents | 252 | Depression, Anxiety, Agitation | Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire | Higher levels of depression and agitation at the beginning of the lockdown than previously, but monotonic decrease linked to reopening. |
Van Der Roast et al. (2020) | Netherlands | Cross-sectional | NH residents | 193 | Mood, Behavioral Problems | Mental Health Inventory − 5 | High levels of depression, loneliness and behavioral problems 6 to 10 weeks after the beginning of lockdown than before. Residents without CI1 more impacted than residents with CI1 |
Van Dyck et al. (2020) | USA | Intervention | NH residents | 30 | wellbeing | Home-made Scale | Positive impact of a telephone outreach program in which medical students phoned NH residents once a week. |
Verbeek et al. (2020) | Netherlands | Qualitative | NH staff | 30 | Reopening, mental health | There was variation in how NH implemented protection measures. This was mainly due to difference in resource that could be applied. Nonetheless, all NH welcomed the reopening following the lockdown. | |
Wammes et al. (2020) | Netherlands | Qualitative | Relatives | 1997 | Experience of Lockdown | Relatives perceived that loneliness, sadness and loss of quality of life would be the main impact of the protection measures. Nonetheless, the majority of relatives found that the measures were necessary. | |
Zamora et al. (2022) | Spain | Longitudinal | NH residents | 215 | Depression, Anxiety, Functional Ambulation | Geriatric Depression Scale, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Barthel Index | Depression: no difference whether contracted COVID-19 or not, but higher overall prevalence than previously. Anxiety: COVID-19 patients > not infected, overall levels higher than before the lockdown Sleep: no difference between infected and non-infected, but overall high levels of sleep problems. |