THE IMPACTS CAUSED BY THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC ON THE DAILY LIVES OF PATIENTS WITH DISABILITIES AT THE PREVENTION AND REHABILITATION SPECIALIZED CENTER – APAE OF FEIRA DE SANTANA – EXPERIENCE REPORT

Abstract

The pandemic of the new coronavirus increased public health challenges to control its spread due to its high contamination capacity. As it based the main preventive measures on hygiene and mainly on social distance, it caused important changes in the daily lives of people with disabilities, leading to physical, psychological, and social impairments due to the difficulty of accessing the rehabilitation centers. This is an experience report study, conducted by the Physiotherapist, Psychologist, and Social Worker who works in the multidisciplinary team of the Specialized Center for Prevention and Rehabilitation (CEPRE), an annex of the Parents and Friends of people with special needs Association (APAE) of Feira de Santana. The main impacts observed because of social restrictions were functional, psychological, and impairments related to transportation to travel to rehabilitation centers. Physical and mental structures were harmed mainly because of social isolation and the need to create a strategy to guarantee health care for people with disabilities to reduce existing social inequalities and ensure their full social inclusion.