PREDICTORS OF THE DESIRE TO INSTITUTIONALIZE IN CARE PARTNERS OF HOSPITALIZED PERSONS WITH DEMENTIA AT DISCHARGE

Abstract

Abstract Hospitalized persons with dementia are more likely to be discharged to long-term nursing home care as compared to persons without dementia. The desire to seek this care is due in large part to the inability of family care partners to continue to provide care at home. This study aimed to identify predictors of desire to institutionalize (DTI) in care partners of persons with dementia at hospital discharge. A stepwise multiple linear regression was done to examine the dyad factors among 434 patient and care partners associated with DTI . Lower preparedness for caregiving (p < .001), higher caregiver strain (p = .039), cohabitation (p < .001) and care partner race (White; p = .016) were associated with DTI. Findings underscore the need to assess family preparedness for caregiving, strain, and living situation upon admission, and suggest the need to examine racial differences in the desire to seek nursing home care.