Author:

Keywords:

dementia, institutionalization, family caregiver, nursing-home placement, caregiver characteristics, alzheimers-disease, care, health, predictors, patient, risk, Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Geriatrics & Gerontology, Gerontology, Psychiatry, NURSING-HOME PLACEMENT, CAREGIVER CHARACTERISTICS, ALZHEIMERS-DISEASE, CARE, HEALTH, PREDICTORS, PATIENT, RISK, Adult, Aged, Behavioral Symptoms, Belgium, Caregivers, Continuity of Patient Care, Cost of Illness, Dementia, Epidemiologic Methods, Family Practice, Female, Home Care Services, Home Nursing, Humans, Institutionalization, Male, Middle Aged, Residential Facilities, Social Support, Spouses, Time Factors, 1103 Clinical Sciences, 1701 Psychology, 1702 Cognitive Sciences, Geriatrics, 3202 Clinical sciences, 4203 Health services and systems, 5203 Clinical and health psychology

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the differences between characteristics of community dwelling demented and non demented elderly and their caregivers at the moment of definitive institutionalization. METHODS: The study is a cross-sectional analysis performed on data obtained from a Network of Sentinel General Practitioners. RESULTS: Older demented patients with several concomitant diseases were mainly placed because of unmanageable behavioral disturbances. Strikingly, these dementia patients were more often confronted with a time delay in definitive institutionalization due to their high care dependence. Although burden in the dementia family caregivers was an important motivation for definitive institutionalization, it did not seem to be a motive in the final institutionalization circumstances. CONCLUSIONS: Behavioral disturbances are independently of caregiver burden, professional support, or a spousal relationship the main direct reason for institutionalization of community dwelling demented elderly. The way caregivers feel supported might play the key role in the final placement decision.