Australas Psychiatry. 2025 Sep 6:10398562251375269. doi: 10.1177/10398562251375269. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
ObjectivesThere is limited research on entry to aged residential care (ARC) in people living with young-onset dementia (YOD). Most people with YOD eventually require ARC, often in facilities designed for older adults. This study aimed to investigate the time to ARC admission in a previously identified YOD cohort and their health outcomes before and after ARC admission.Methods60 YOD participants (diagnosed in Waikato, New Zealand between 2014 and 2016) were retrospectively followed over a median of 5.4 years, using routinely collected health data (interRAI and mortality data). Survival analysis assessed the ARC admissions time, considering age, gender, ethnicity, and dementia type. McNemar’s/McNemar-Bowker tests were conducted to compare health outcomes before and after ARC admission.Results32 participants required ARC, with a median admission time of 4.5 years post-diagnosis. No significant effects were detected for age at diagnosis, gender, ethnicity (Māori vs non-Māori), or dementia type (Alzheimer’s vs non-Alzheimer’s disease) on ARC admission time. Significant health improvements were observed post-admission regarding health stability (CHESS), smoking, physical activity, and hospitalisations.ConclusionsWell-being improvements after ARC admission are encouraging and align with the New Zealand Aged Care Association (NZACA) report. However, the small sample size warrants further research to confirm these findings.
PMID:40913498 | DOI:10.1177/10398562251375269
