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Shelter-in-Place Policies, Proximity, and Changes in Caregiving for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Lei Chen, Joanne Spetz. Innovation in Aging, 2025-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract During the COVID-19 pandemic, the dynamics of family support for older adults living with disabilities were disrupted due to “Shelter-in-Place (SIP)” orders. This study examined the impact of SIP policies on caregiving changes and how these changes were related to family members’ geographic proximity. This study used the National Health and Aging Trends Survey (NHATS) round 10 data, COVID-19 geographic data, and restricted COVID-19 data files. We added published data about SIP policies at the county level. The study sample was NHATS respondents who needed assistance with activities of daily living (ADL) or instrumental activities of daily living (IADL), and who did not live with a spouse (N = 512). We estimated weighted multivariate logistic regression models and estimated separately by dementia status and ADL/IADL needs. 55.2% reported no change in receiving help, 36.7% reported receiving less help, and 8.1% reported receiving more help during COVID than before. Compared to those who did not have a change in help during COVID, a person living in a place with a higher percentage of SIP days was less likely to receive more help. No significant changes were found as stratified by dementia status and ADL/IADL needs. No significant associations were found between proximity and changes in caregiving. It is important to address caregiving needs of older adults with disabilities who do not live with a spouse during public health emergencies and to examine how disruptions caused by policies impact the provision of help for people who rely on family support.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Chen, L., & Spetz, J. (2025). Shelter-in-Place Policies, Proximity, and Changes in Caregiving for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Innovation in Aging. https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.804
Vancouver
Chen L, Spetz J. Shelter-in-Place Policies, Proximity, and Changes in Caregiving for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic. Innovation in Aging. 2025. doi:10.1093/geroni/igaf122.804.
BibTeX
@article{chen2025-dc9a53d2,
author = {Chen, Lei and Spetz, Joanne},
title = {{Shelter-in-Place Policies, Proximity, and Changes in Caregiving for Older Adults During the COVID-19 Pandemic}},
journal = {Innovation in Aging},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geroni/igaf122.804},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geroni/igaf122.804}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Compared to those who did not have a change in help during COVID, a person living in a place with a higher percentage of SIP days was less likely to receive more help.
- No significant changes were found as stratified by dementia status and ADL/IADL needs.
- No significant associations were found between proximity and changes in caregiving.
Why it matters
This study found that during COVID-19, people in areas with more shelter-in-place days were less likely to receive more help, with no significant differences by dementia status. It does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants512
- Effect size55.2%; 36.7%; 8.1%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Innovation in Aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Innovation in Aging: journal h-index 48 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 512 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Joanne Spetz: h-index 45 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of California, San Francisco: institution h-index 1,915 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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