Relatives experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study set in Spanish locked-down nursing homes.

Aim: To describe the experience of relatives of residents with dementia residing in locked-down nursing homes during the first outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, concerning their relationships with nurses and the nursing care applied.

Methods: A qualitative descriptive study was carried out and purposive sampling was applied. Participants were first- and second-degree relatives of residents with dementia, who lived permanently in a nursing home and who were admitted prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Sixteen participants, of which 10 were women (mean age 57.1 years), participated in the study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and reflective notes, using a digital platform. An inductive thematic analysis was carried out. This study was approved by the University Research Ethics Committee and followed the COREQ guidelines. The Guba and Lincoln criteria (credibility, transferability, dependability, and confirmability) were applied for quality control.

Results: Families' relationships with nurses before the first wave relied on closeness and involvement in care. Families had difficulty maintaining a close relationship with nurses due to turnover and lack of time. The nursing care applied in the first wave resulted in limited family access to the nursing home, limited contact time with residents, and limited close physical contact.

Conclusions: The first outbreak has affected the relationships among relatives and nurses in nursing homes. Changes should be made in the organization of care within nursing homes in order to adapt to restrictions due to the pandemic.