Title: Actions and challenges experienced by female caregivers in protecting older people during COVID-19 pandemic in Indonesia

Abstract

The novel coronavirus has rapidly impacted societies on a global scale, with older people among the most affected. To care for older people living in their own homes, female family caregivers play a pivotal role. The current study aimed to explore actions of female family caregivers and challenges they faced in taking care of older people living at homes during COVID-19 pandemic in Belu district, Indonesia. This qualitative study involved twenty female family caregivers, who were recruited using a combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Findings were grouped into two main categories: (i) actions of female family caregivers in taking care of older adults during COVID-19 pandemic. These included limiting both visitation of extended family members and older adults’ activities outside homes; explaining about the virus to older adults and controlling news, social media and smart phones; providing nutrition, supplement and keeping daily diets; and (ii) challenges they faced in taking care of older adults included excessive fear of contracting COVID and possibility of infecting older people; feeling stressed; tired and overburdened. The study highlights the significant role family caregivers played to protect older people living at home. The findings provide can inform government intervention programs that address and support the needs of both family caregivers and older people living at home.