Living alone with mild-to-moderate dementia over a two-year period: longitudinal findings from the IDEAL cohort

Clare, Linda, D. Gamble, Laura, Martyr, Anthony, Henderson, Cate, Knapp, Martin ORCID: 0000-0003-1427-0215 and Matthews, Fiona E. (2024) Living alone with mild-to-moderate dementia over a two-year period: longitudinal findings from the IDEAL cohort. American Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry, 32 (11). pp. 1309-1321. ISSN 1064-7481

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Abstract

Objectives: To compare the experiences of people with dementia living alone or with others and how these may change over two years. Design: We analysed longitudinal data from three assessment waves, one year apart, in the British IDEAL cohort. Setting: Participants with mild-to-moderate dementia were recruited through National Health Service providers, where possible with a family caregiver, and interviewed at home. Participants: The current analyses include 281 people with dementia living alone and 1244 living with others at baseline; follow-up data were available for 200 and 965 respectively at time 2 and 144 and 696 respectively at time 3. For those living alone, 140 non-resident caregivers contributed at baseline, 102 at time 2 and 81 at time 3. For those living with others, 1127 family caregivers contributed at baseline, 876 at time 2 and 670 at time 3. Measurements: Assessments covered: cognitive and functional ability; self-reported perceptions of health, mood, social engagement, quality of life, satisfaction with life and well-being; use of in-home and community care; and transitions into residential care. Results: People living alone tended to have better cognitive and functional ability and were more frequent users of in-home care. However, they experienced poorer physical, social, and psychological health and reduced quality of life, satisfaction with life, and well-being. These differences persisted over time and rates of transition into residential care were higher. Conclusions: To facilitate continuing in place for people with dementia living alone, a dual focus on supporting functional ability and addressing psychosocial needs is essential in the context of an enabling policy framework.

Item Type:	Article
Official URL:	https://www.ajgponline.org/
Additional Information:	© 2024 The Authors
Divisions:	Care Policy and Evaluation Centre Health Policy
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology R Medicine > RA Public aspects of medicine
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2024 13:42
Last Modified:	01 Nov 2024 18:27
URI:	http://eprints.lse.ac.uk/id/eprint/123709

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