Many elderly people living in long-term care facilities have not been allowed to receive visitors in almost a year. | Pixabay
Many elderly people living in long-term care facilities have not been allowed to receive visitors in almost a year. | Pixabay
Michigan’s 18% increase in Alzheimer’s disease deaths in 2020, as compared to a previous six-year average, suggests a possible link between social isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and increased deaths, according to Bridge Michigan.
The goal of closing Michigan’s long-term care facilities last March, except for essential visits, was to stop the spread of the coronavirus. However, the report quoted family members whose elderly father died of Alzheimer’s and COVID-19 who believe “their inability to visit their dad in person, to hold his hand and talk, may have accelerated his dementia.”
The family believed that their physical presence made a big difference in the state of their father's mental health.
Between 2014 and 2019, Michigan had an average of 4,100 Alzheimer’s-related deaths each year. In 2020, it had 4,838, an 18% jump over the previous years, according to Bridge Michigan.
The Alzheimer’s Association said in its report, “Effect of COVID-19 on People with Alzheimer’s and Dementia,” that there were at least 41,394 more deaths nationwide than expected in 2020 from Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“Individuals living with dementia may be especially isolated and may have trouble communicating virtually, potentially causing more rapid cognitive decline,” the report said.
Social isolation and loneliness puts older adults at risk for serious medical conditions such as dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Social isolation was associated with about a 50% increased risk of dementia.”
The Alzheimer’s Association’s website has several tips for keeping families and friends connected, including scheduling telephone or video calls and encouraging relatives and friends to send notes and photos.
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