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"Living Well" Trajectories Among Family Caregivers of People With Mild-to-Moderate Dementia in the IDEAL Cohort

Lookup NU author(s): Dr Laura Gamble, Professor Fiona MatthewsORCiD

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).


Abstract

© The Author(s) 2022. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The Gerontological Society of America. OBJECTIVES: Understanding whether and how caregivers' capability to "live well" changes over time, and the factors associated with change, could help target effective caregiver support. METHODS: We analyzed 3 time points (12 months apart) of Improving the experience of Dementia and Enhancing Active Life (IDEAL) cohort data from coresident spouse caregivers of community-dwelling individuals who had mild-to-moderate dementia at baseline, using latent growth and growth mixture models. Capability to "live well" was derived from measures of quality of life, well-being, and satisfaction with life. RESULTS: Data from 995 spouse caregivers at Time 1, 780 at Time 2, and 601 at Time 3 were included. The mean "living well" score decreased slightly over time. We identified 3 classes of caregivers: one with higher baseline scores declining slightly over time (Stable; 66.8%), one with low baseline scores remaining stable (Lower Stable; 26.0%), and one with higher baseline scores showing marked decline (Declining; 7.2%). Scores on baseline measures differentiated the Lower Stable, but not the Declining, from the Stable class. Longitudinally, the Declining class was associated with care recipient cognitive decline and increasing hours providing care, as well as caregiver stress and depression. Findings were similar when caregivers with other kin relationships were included. DISCUSSION: The findings indicate the importance of prompt identification of, and support for, caregivers at risk of the declining capability to "live well" and may assist in identifying those caregivers who could benefit most from targeted support.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Clare L, Gamble LD, Martyr A, Sabatini S, Nelis SM, Quinn C, Pentecost C, Victor C, Jones RW, Jones IR, Knapp M, Litherland R, Morris RG, Rusted JM, Thom JM, Collins R, Henderson C, Matthews FE

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journals of Gerontology: Series B

Year: 2022

Volume: 77

Issue: 10

Pages: 1852-1863

Print publication date: 01/10/2022

Online publication date: 07/07/2022

Acceptance date: 27/06/2022

Date deposited: 24/10/2022

ISSN (print): 1079-5014

ISSN (electronic): 1758-5368

Publisher: Oxford University Press

URL: https://doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac090

DOI: 10.1093/geronb/gbac090

PubMed id: 35796675


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Funding

Funder referenceFunder name
ES/L001853/2

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