COVID-19 Pandemic Impact on Short-Stay Utilization by Individuals With Severe Motor and Intellectual Disabilities

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Services Research
• Public Health
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Respite care, especially short-stay services, is vital for the quality of life of individuals with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) and their caregivers.
• The COVID-19 pandemic presented unprecedented challenges to healthcare systems and service accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the utilization of short-stay respite care services for individuals with SMID.
• To compare service utilization across pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic phases.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study analyzed data from 54 individuals with SMID who received short-stay services.
• Utilization was compared across three distinct periods: pre-pandemic (2017-2019), pandemic (2020-2023), and post-pandemic (2023-2025).
• Participants were classified into Care and Non-care groups based on intensive home medical needs.

Main Results:

• Overall monthly utilization days decreased significantly during the pandemic but increased dramatically in the post-pandemic phase compared to pre-pandemic levels.
• The proportion of utilization days for the Care group increased during the pandemic, highlighting sustained demand for medically fragile individuals.
• Intra-ward COVID-19 outbreaks correlated with temporary reductions in service utilization.

Conclusions:

• The COVID-19 pandemic caused dynamic shifts in respite care utilization patterns.
• The consistent use by the Care group emphasizes the critical need for these services for families with high medical needs.
• The post-pandemic increase in utilization suggests significant caregiver burnout, necessitating enhanced institutional capacity and infection control for future pandemic resilience.