Community groups, organisations, and employers respond to the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic: A story of resilience and continued vulnerability.

Background: The Covid-19 pandemic profoundly disrupted societal systems, prompting community groups, voluntary organizations and employers to adapt rapidly to emerging needs. Here we present findings of a study conducted in the North West of England, exploring how groups and organisations adapted and responded to local needs at this time.

Methods: We conducted semi-structured interviews with 'key informants' within local community voluntary, charity, faith or social enterprise (VCFSE) sector groups and organisations (n = 19) and large/ medium employers within any sector (n = 6).

The effects of singing interventions on quality of life, mood and levels of agitation in community-dwelling people living with dementia: A quantitative systematic review.

Music-based interventions have been found to benefit people living with dementia and have positive impacts on cognition and well-being. Most people with dementia live in the community and compared to people with dementia in residential care often have less access to music-based interventions. There are many forms of music interventions and singing has shown particular promise; in the realm of music interventions.

Co-producing a board game to learn and engage about dementia inequalities: First impacts on knowledge in the general population.

Background: Receiving and accessing care after a diagnosis of dementia, both for the person and their carer, are fraught with inequalities. The aim of this public engagement activity was to co-produce a board game about dementia inequalities to facilitate learning, dialogue and educate about different barriers, and facilitators, to diagnosis and care and to test the game's impact on dementia knowledge with the general public.

Methods: Two virtual and two face-to-face workshops with people with dementia, unpaid carers, health and social care professionals and Third Sector representatives were held between October 2022 and June 2023.

A systematic review of digital access to post-diagnostic health and social care services for dementia.

Objectives: For many people with dementia and unpaid carers, using technology for care and support has become essential. Rapid proliferation of technology highlights the need to understand digital access to health and social care services for dementia. This mixed-methods systematic review aims to explore digital access to health and social care services for dementia, from the perspective of people with dementia and unpaid carers.

Perceptions of vision care following neurological impairment: a qualitative study.

Background: Visual impairment is a common consequence of neurological impairments, and can impact a person's ability to undertake everyday tasks, affecting their confidence and mental health. Previous qualitative research in the UK has shown inequalities to exist where patients are accessing vision care after stroke, but little is known around the experiences of accessing vision care following other neurological impairments, and a lack of national guidelines prevent standardised care planning. The aim of this qualitative study is to explore the perceptions of vision care after neurological impairment, and to identify possible inequalities and support mechanisms, where it has been possible to access vision care.

The landscape of inequalities in dementia across Europe: First insights from the INTERDEM taskforce.

Background: Getting a diagnosis of dementia does not equate to equitable access to care. People with dementia and unpaid carers face many barriers to care, which can vary within, and across, different countries and cultures. With little evidence across different countries, the aim of this scoping exercise was to identify the different and similar types of inequalities in dementia across Europe, and provide recommendations for addressing these.

Do community-based singing interventions have an impact on people living with dementia and their carers? A mixed-methods study protocol.

Introduction: Psychosocial interventions have been shown to improve mood, relieve stress and improve quality of life for people living with dementia (PwD). To date, most evaluations of singing interventions have focused on the benefits for PwD and not their carers. This research aims to evaluate the benefits of dementia singing groups for both PwD and their carers.

A systematic review on inequalities in accessing and using community-based social care in dementia.

Objectives: To evaluate and synthesize the evidence base on barriers and facilitators to accessing and using community-based social care in dementia.

Design: Mixed-methods systematic review.

Setting: Community-based social care (such as day care, respite care, paid home care, and peer support groups).

The perception of risk in contracting and spreading COVID-19 amongst individuals, households and vulnerable groups in England: a longitudinal qualitative study.

Background: Social distancing restrictions to manage the COVID-19 pandemic were put in place from March 2020 in the United Kingdom (UK), with those classed as "highly clinically vulnerable" advised to shield entirely and remain at home. However, personal risk perception has been shown to comprise of various elements beyond those outlined in the national pandemic guidance. It is unclear whether those deemed COVID-19 vulnerable identified as high-risk to COVID-19 and thus complied with the relevant advice.

Changes to Visual Parameters Following Virtual Reality Gameplay.

Introduction: Virtual reality (VR) gameplay is popular with a range of games and educational resources available. However, it puts high demands on the visual system. Current evidence shows conflicting impacts on visual parameters.

End of life care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.

Purpose: To report the experiences of End of Life (EoL) care in UK care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: UK care home staff and family carers of residents in care home took part in remote, semi-structured interviews from October to November 2020, with 20 participants followed-up in March 2021. Interviews were conducted via telephone or online platforms and qualitatively analysed using inductive thematic analysis.

Guilt, tears and burnout-Impact of UK care home restrictions on the mental well-being of staff, families and residents.

Aims: The aim of this study was to explore the impact of the pandemic on the emotional and mental well-being of family carers, care home staff and residents, in light of changing restrictions, increased testing and vaccination rollout in the UK.

Design: Longitudinal, qualitative semi-structured interview study.

Methods: Remote semi-structured interviews were conducted with family carers of care home residents with dementia and care home staff from different care homes across the UK.

Working in a care home during the COVID-19 pandemic: How has the pandemic changed working practices? A qualitative study.

Background: The pandemic has significantly affected care homes' residents and families through the national visiting restrictions. However, less is known on the impact these changes have had on the care home workforce. The aim of this research was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on the working practices of care home staff, caring for people living with dementia.

Are we allowed to visit now? Concerns and issues surrounding vaccination and infection risks in UK care homes during COVID-19.

Background: vaccination uptake in the UK and increased care home testing are likely affecting care home visitation. With scant scientific evidence to date, the aim of this longitudinal qualitative study was to explore the impact of both (vaccination and testing) on the conduct and experiences of care home visits.

Methods: family carers of care home residents with dementia and care home staff from across the UK took part in baseline (October/November 2020) and follow-up interviews (March 2021).

Taking the 'care' out of care homes: The moral dilemma of institutional long-term care provision during COVID-19.

Little is known on how the pandemic has changed care home care delivery. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of COVID-19 on care provision and visits in care homes from staff and family members' perspectives. For this purpose, we conducted a telephone- and zoom-based qualitative semi-structured interview study.

Resilience and supporting people living with dementia during the time of COVID-19; A qualitative study.

Objectives: To explore the different factors of resilience for people living with dementia and unpaid carers, in response to sudden changes in care and lifestyle during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Unpaid carers and people living with dementia were offered telephone interviews in April 2020 to discuss their experiences since the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were asked about the benefits and challenges of accessing dementia support, as well as coping, symptoms, strategies and impacts.

Navigating the new normal: accessing community and institutionalised care for dementia during COVID-19.

Objectives: Little is known about how community services and institutional care settings have adapted to providing support since the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim was to explore how these care services have adapted during the pandemic in the UK and are providing care to people living with dementia (PLWD) and carers.

Method: Semi-structured telephone interviews were conducted in June and July 2020 with 16 purposefully sampled unpaid dementia carers.

The potential dangers of not understanding COVID-19 public health restrictions in dementia: "It's a groundhog day - every single day she does not understand why she can't go out for a walk".

Background: Sudden public health restrictions can be difficult to comprehend for people with cognitive deficits. However, these are even more important for them to adhere to due to their increased levels of vulnerability, particularly to COVID-19. With a lack of previous evidence, we explored the understanding and changes in adherence to COVID-19 public health restrictions over time in people living with dementia (PLWD).

"Eye" Don't See: An Analysis of Visual Symptom Reporting by Stroke Survivors from a Large Epidemiology Study.

Aim: The purpose was to explore the reported symptoms of post-stroke visual impairment from a large multi-centre prospective epidemiology study.

Methods: Visual assessment, including a case history, visual acuity, ocular alignment, ocular motility, visual fields, visual inattention and visual perception, was attempted for all stroke admissions to three acute stroke units.

Results: Of 1500 stroke admissions, 1204 received a visual assessment, of which 867 had one or more visual impairments.

"A piece of paper is not the same as having someone to talk to": accessing post-diagnostic dementia care before and since COVID-19 and associated inequalities.

Background: Social support services such as day care centres are important in post-diagnostic dementia care to enable people living with dementia stay at home for longer. Little research has addressed potential inequalities in access, with no research on variations before and since COVID-19. The aim of this study was to explore inequalities in social support service usage before and since the pandemic.

Emotional and Mental Wellbeing Following COVID-19 Public Health Measures on People Living With Dementia and Carers.

Background: To date, there appears to be no evidence on the longer-term impacts caused by COVID-19 and its related public health restrictions on some of the most vulnerable in our societies. The aim of this research was to explore the change in impact of COVID-19 public health measures on the mental wellbeing of people living with dementia (PLWD) and unpaid carers.

Method: Semi-structured, follow-up telephone interviews were conducted with PLWD and unpaid carers between June and July 2020.

Impact of visual impairment following stroke (IVIS study): a prospective clinical profile of central and peripheral visual deficits, eye movement abnormalities and visual perceptual deficits.

Aim: This study evaluates the spectrum of visual impairment in stroke survivors.

Methods: The Impact of Visual Impairment after Stroke (IVIS) study is a multi-centre, acute stroke unit, prospective epidemiology study. Comprehensive visual examination was offered to all stroke survivors.

To stimulate or not to stimulate? A rapid systematic review of repetitive sensory stimulation for the upper-limb following stroke.

Background: Repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) is a therapeutic approach which involves repeated electrical stimulation of the skin's surface to improve function. This rapid systematic review aimed to describe the current evidence for repetitive sensory stimulation (RSS) in rehabilitation of the upper-limb for people who have had a stroke.

Main Text: Methods: Relevant studies were identified in a systematic search of electronic databases and hand-searching in February 2020.