Met and Unmet Needs of Older Adults With Cognitive Impairment, and Burden and Benefits of Their Family Caregivers.

Abstract

This study examined the association between met and unmet needs of older adults with cognitive impairment living in the community and unique types of caregiving experience, each comprising different levels of caregiving burden and benefits. Latent class analysis and multivariable regression were applied to data on 266 caregivers of community-dwelling Singaporean older adults, aged 60 years and above, with cognitive impairment who participated in a community-based dementia care study in 2018. Three unique types of caregiving experience were identified: satisfied (low burden and high benefits; 54% of caregivers), dissatisfied (low burden and low benefits; 35%), and intensive (high burden and high benefits; 11%). Met needs were positively associated with satisfied caregiving experience (vs. dissatisfied caregiving experience), and both met and unmet needs were positively associated with intensive caregiving experience (vs. dissatisfied caregiving experience). Specifically, caregivers tended to have satisfied caregiving experience if older adults' care needs in daytime activities or mobility were met. Fulfillment of unmet needs of older adults with cognitive impairment is associated with a satisfied caregiver experience characterized by lower caregiver burden and greater caregiver benefits. Identification of and tailored interventions for unmet care needs of older adults will likely promote satisfied caregiving experience.