The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on people living with dementia in Ireland

Abstract

This preliminary report from Ireland reviews the impact of Covid-19 on people living with dementia and their family caregivers. It builds on an earlier report written by colleagues on COVID-19 in long-term care settings in Ireland . The first case of COVID-19 in Ireland was diagnosed on the 29th February . As of May 29th, 25,062 people have tested positive for COVID-19 and 1,650 people have lost their lives . Age is a significant risk factor for COVID-19 and we now know that 93.4% of all Irish deaths have occurred in people over the age of 65, and 79.82% have occurred in people over the age of 75, with those over 85 years of age having a case fatality ratio of 26.32% .