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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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: In the current study, the Anderson model is used to determine equitable access to dementia care in Europe. Predisposing, enabling, and need variables were investigated to find out whether there is equitable access to dementia-specific formal care services. Results can identify which specific factors should be a target to improve access.Methods: A total of 451 People with middle-stage dementia and their informal carers from eight European countries were included. At baseline, there was no use of formal care yet, but people were expected to start using formal care within the next year. Logistic regressions were carried out with one of four clusters of service use as dependent variables (home social care, home personal care, day care, admission). The independent variables (predisposing, enabling, and need variables) were added to the regression in blocks.Results: The most significant predictors for the different care clusters are disease severity, a higher sum of (un)met needs, hours spent on informal care, living alone, age, region of residence, and gender.Conclusion: The Andersen model provided for this cohort the insight that (besides need factors) the predisposing variables region of residence, gender, and age do play a role in finding access to care. In addition, it showed us that the numbers of hours spent on informal care, living alone, needs, and disease severity are also important predictors within the model's framework. Health care professionals should pay attention to these predisposing factors to ensure that they do not become barriers for those in need for care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Previous findings indicate that people with dementia and their informal carers experience difficulties accessing and using formal care services due to a mismatch between needs and service use. This mismatch causes overall dissatisfaction and is a waste of the scarce financial care resources. This article presents the background and methods of the Actifcare (ACcess to Timely Formal Care) project. This is a European study aiming at best-practice development in finding timely access to formal care for community-dwelling people with dementia and their informal carers. There are five main objectives: 1) Explore predisposing and enabling factors associated with the use of formal care, 2) Explore the association between the use of formal care, needs and quality of life and 3) Compare these across European countries, 4) Understand the costs and consequences of formal care services utilization in people with unmet needs, 5) Determine the major costs and quality of life drivers and their relationship with formal care services across European countries.Methods: In a longitudinal cohort study conducted in eight European countries approximately 450 people with dementia and informal carers will be assessed three times in 1 year (baseline, 6 and 12 months). In this year we will closely monitor the process of finding access to formal care. Data on service use, quality of life and needs will be collected.Discussion: The results of Actifcare are expected to reveal best-practices in organizing formal care. Knowledge about enabling and predisposing factors regarding access to care services, as well as its costs and consequences, can advance the state of the art in health systems research into pathways to dementia care, in order to benefit people with dementia and their informal carers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Examination of clinical practice reveals that current treatment options are often not sufficiently utilized by patients suffering from dementia or mild cognitive impairment. Objective This study aimed to investigate to what extent and in what way these patients utilize the available treatment options, as well as to identify factors and reasons that play a role in the non-utilization of these options. Methods Semi-structured interviews by telephone were held with the patients' caregivers. Results Counseling, medication, activities and home care were the options that were most frequently utilized by the 252 patients and caregivers who were included in the study. Group guidance and admissions were the main treatment categories that had not been utilized (although they were proposed). The most important reasons given were refusal by the patient and the fact that help was not necessary yet according to the caregiver. Burden of care and cognition were the most important factors in predicting which of the treatment options were not utilized. Conclusions Most patients and caregivers are not aware of the treatment options available to them. Awareness of these options is necessary to avoid situations in which patients and caregivers find themselves with their backs against the wall and the need for care support has become an acute necessity. Health care professionals should play an important role with regard to this empowerment. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Understanding which persons most likely use particular combinations of service types is important as this could lead to a better understanding of care pathways. The aim of this study is to identify combinations of service use within a sample of community-dwelling people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and dementia and identify factors related to these service use combinations. Methods A latent class analysis performed at baseline on a merged dataset (n = 530) was used to classify care recipients based on following service use types: general practitioner visits, physiotherapist visits, hospital outpatient specialist visits, emergency room visits, hospital inpatient visits with stay over, day care visits, use of domestic homecare, use of personal homecare, and informal care on (instrumental) activities of daily living. Multinomial logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with service use combinations using clinical characteristics of the care recipient and demographic characteristics of the care recipient and caregiver. Results Three service use classes were identified; a formal homecare class (10% of participants), an informal care class (46% of participants), and a low user class (44% of participants). Factors increasing the likelihood of being in the formal homecare class compared with the low service use class included a diagnosis of MCI or dementia, activities of daily living impairment, older age of the care recipient, and care recipient not living together with the caregiver. Conclusions Besides a diagnosis of MCI or dementia, other factors (activities of daily living impairment, age, and living situation) were associated with service use. We recommend using these factors alongside the diagnostic label for care indication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]