Objective: To describe the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the roles of clinical social workers (SW) in the care of Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted healthcare disparities, making the importance of social work in supporting vulnerable populations increasingly evident[1]. COVID-19 has also heightened stress and reduced opportunities for socialization and exercise for PD patients and their families, emphasizing the benefits of interdisciplinary support and self-management[2]. Deciphering how social work practice adapted to the needs of PD patients during the COVID-19 pandemic can apprise our current delivery of comprehensive PD care.

Method: A 32-item web-based survey was distributed via email to SW who self-identified as working in PD care teams. Demographics, workplace characteristics, and SW interventions were collected, including time-points before and since the COVID-19 pandemic. Open-ended responses were also analyzed.

Results: A total of 39 SW with 8 mean years (SD = 8.58) working with PD in the US and Canada participated in the survey. Health care organizations funded 46.2% of the SW position (n=18) and 35.9% were funded by grants. The majority (74%) of SW were based in university/teaching hospital outpatient clinics, with 51.3 % (n = 20) working remotely full- or part-time during the pandemic.

Over half of participants (56.7%) reported an increase in the frequency of follow-up contact with patients since COVID-19, primarily related to mental health concerns and care partner burnout. Loneliness/isolation became the most common reason for SW referral from the team (17.9%), compared to 2.6% of referrals pre-pandemic. For 43.3% of participants, the pandemic posed significant challenges in the provision of social work services due to limited availability of community resources. While biopsychological assessment and direct patient care continued to be the primary tasks, SW saw an increase in time spent educating the PD team on patients’ and families’ psychosocial concerns.

Conclusion: Increased isolation, barriers to community resources, and mental health burdens for PD patients and families during COVID-19 escalated the need for interventions by SW to support quality of life. The COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated the adaptability of SW to meeting the needs those they serve and underscored the vital role of SW in the holistic management of PD during COVID-19 and beyond.

References: [1] Helmich RC, Bloem BRC. The Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on parkinson disease: hidden sorrows and emerging opportunities. J Parkinsons Dis. 2020;10:351–354. [2] Carole, C. Older Adults and Covid 19: Social justice, disparities, and social work practice. J Gero Social Work. 2020;63:6-7, 611-624, DOI: 10.1080/01634372.2020.1808141

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/covid-19-and-parkinsons-disease-care-challenges-and-opportunities-for-social-work-practice/