Do caregiver profiles predict the use of dementia care services? Findings from the Actifcare study

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  • Liselot Kerpershoek
    Maastricht University
  • Robert Woods
  • Claire Wolfs
    Maastricht University
  • Frans Verhey
    Maastricht University
  • Hannah Jelley
  • Anja Bieber
    Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
  • Astrid Stephan
    Martin-Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg
  • Mona Michelet
    University of Oslo
  • Geir Selbaek
    University of Oslo
  • Ron Handels
    Maastricht University
  • Anders Wimo
    Karolinska Institute, Stockholm
  • Louise Hopper
    Dublin City University
  • Kate Irving
    Dublin City University
  • Maria J. Marques
    Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • Manuel Gonçalves-Pereira
    Universidade Nova de Lisboa
  • Elisa Portolani
    IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio “Fatebenefratelli”
  • Orazio Zanetti
    IRCCS S. Giovanni di Dio “Fatebenefratelli”
  • Marjolein de Vugt
    Maastricht University
  • Consortium Actifcare
Objectives: Previously developed dementia caregiver profiles defined by caregiver age and burden, have been associated with caregiver quality of life, depression and perseverance time. The current aim was to investigate whether these caregiver profiles could predict subsequent service use. In addition, non-personal (e.g. meals on wheels) and supportive services (e.g. Alzheimer café) in early dementia were investigated as predictors.
Methods: A total of 451 dyads of people with dementia and their informal caregivers from eight European countries were followed for one year. People were included if they did not use formal (personal) care but were expected to do so within 1 year. Logistic regression analyses were used with four clusters of service use as dependent variables (home social care, home personal care, day care and admission). The independent variables were caregiver profiles, and non-personal and supportive services at baseline.
Results: Caregiver profiles were significant predictors of service use; those experiencing high strain were more likely to use formal care. The use of low-intensity, less intrusive services at baseline significantly predicted the use of home personal care and admission at follow-up. The use of day care at follow-up was predicted by the baseline use of supportive services.
Conclusion: Caregiver profiles are valuable predictors for service use: this knowledge can aid professionals in ensuring optimal access to services, which is important for maintaining independence at home. In addition, the use of supportive and less intrusive, non-personal services in the early stages of dementia is to be advised.

Keywords

  • Dementia, caregiver profiles, informal caregiver, service use
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)272-279
JournalAging and Mental Health
Volume24
Issue number2
Early online date6 Dec 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Feb 2020

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