SPECIAL ARTICLE  COVID-19 IMPACT IN ITALY Free access

European Journal of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine 2020 June;56(3):331-4

DOI: 10.23736/S1973-9087.20.06373-X

Copyright © 2020 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: English

Living with a disability during the pandemic. “Instant paper from the field” on rehabilitation answers to the COVID-19 emergency

Paolo BOLDRINI ¹ ✉, Marina GARCEA ², Giampaolo BRICHETTO ³, Nicoletta REALE ⁴, Silvia TONOLO ⁵, Vincenzo FALABELLA ⁶, Francesca FEDELI ⁷, Anne A. CNOPS ⁸, Carlotte KIEKENS ⁹

¹ Past President Società Italiana di Medicina Fisica e Riabilitativa (SIMFER), Secretary General, European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ESPRM), Rome, Italy; ² Board Member ACMT-RETE for Charcot Marie Tooth Disease, Rome, Italy; ³ AISM Rehabilitation Center, Genoa, Italy; ⁴ President Association Against the Stroke, A.L.I.Ce. Italia Odv, Rome, Italy; ⁵ President National Association of Persons with Rheumatic Disease (ANMAR), Rome, Italy; ⁶ President Italian Federation of Persons with Spinal Cord Injuries (Faip Onlus), Rome, Italy; ⁷ President Fight the Stroke, Rome, Italy; ⁸ Member National Federation of Associations of Traumatic Brain Injured Patients (FNATC), Rome, Italy; ⁹ Spinal Unit, Montecatone Rehabilitation Institute, Imola, Bologna, Italy

COVID-19 pandemic is creating collateral damage to persons with disabling conditions of different aetiology. The restrictions imposed to contain the spread of infection is limiting the access to many health services, including rehabilitation. It is expected that such situation will lead to long lasting negative consequences for persons with disability, increasing functional limitations in chronic conditions and hindering the recovery after acute events. The aim of this paper is to explore the impact on people with disability, reporting the contents of the sixth Italian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (SIMFER) webinar on the COVID-19 impact on rehabilitation (“Covinars”). Seven representatives of Associations of persons affected by different disabling conditions described the difficulties they are facing during the pandemic, the initiatives undertaken to support their members and their future perspectives and expectations. The users’ inputs will be helpful in planning the future phases of the emergency and improve preparedness for other emergencies.

KEY WORDS: Rehabilitation; Disability evaluation; COVID-19