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Cited by 4Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchGeriatric Care and Nursing HomesPalliative Care and End-of-Life Issues

How transitions in dementia care trajectories affect health problems in partners: A longitudinal analysis with linked health and administrative data

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van der Heide, Iris, Heins, Marianne J, van Hout, Hein P J, Verheij, Robert A, Francke, Anneke L, Joling, Karlijn J·2021·The Journals of Gerontology Series B
DOI 10.1093/geronb/gbaa204
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Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the prevalence of health problems in cohabiting partners of people with dementia differs between the year before and the year after 3 transitions: the diagnosis of dementia, institutionalization, and the death of the person with dementia. METHODS: Individuals with dementia and their partners were identified on the basis of data in the electronic health records (EHRs) of 451 Dutch general practices. EHRs were also the data source on their health problems, which were linked to the Dutch population registry and health administration data with demographic characteristics, date of institutionalization, and date of death. Differences in the prevalence of 16 groups of health problems and of specific health problems in partners during the year before and the year after the 3 transitions were examined using a generalized estimating equation. RESULTS: About 1,110 partners of persons with dementia were identified. Problems related to the illness and/or loss of the person with dementia were significantly more prevalent in the year after the dementia diagnosis (32% vs. 17%) and in the year after the death of the person with dementia (59% vs. 41%) than in the years before. Unspecified health problems were more prevalent in the year after the diagnosis than in the year before (30% vs. 22%). After institutionalization, an increase was found in digestive problems and urological problems (30% vs. 18% and 24% vs. 17%). DISCUSSION: Transitions during the dementia care trajectory, namely, the diagnosis, institutionalization, and death of the person with dementia, significantly affect the cohabiting partner's health.

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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?

  • Early diagnosis and proactive counselling about disease trajectory enabled families to plan, reducing stress and enhancing decision confidence.

    “Early diagnosis and proactive counselling about disease trajectory enabled families to plan, reducing stress and enhancing decision confidence (Brooks et al., 2022b; Groenvynck et al., 2022; van der Heide et al., 2021).”

    From Mind the gap: a systematic review of barriers, facilitators, and experiences of care transitions for people living with dementia and their informal caregivers. (2026) · cites this paper as van der Heide et al., 2021

    The Introduction (p. 2) reports that a dementia diagnosis can help family caregivers arrange timely care and support, thereby reducing stress. It also says diagnosis may increase insecurity and stress, and the paper does not establish that early diagnosis or proactive counselling enhances planning or decision confidence. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Pinquart, M., & Sörensen, S. (2007). Correlates of physical health of family caregivers: a metaanalysis. J Gerontol B Psychol Sci Soc Sci, 62 (2), 126-137.

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Authors
van der Heide, I., Heins, M. J., van Hout, H. P. J., Verheij, R. A., Francke, A. L., & Joling, K. J.
Affiliations
  • Nivel, Netherlands Institute of Health Services Research, Utrecht, The Netherlands
  • Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research (NL)
  • Department of General Practice and Elderly Care Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
  • Amsterdam Public Health (NL)
ORCID
Venue
The Journals of Gerontology Series B
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
2020-11-29
Volume
76
Issue
6
Pages
1186-1194
ISSN
  • 1079-5014 (ISSN-L)
  • 1758-5368
DOI
10.1093/geronb/gbaa204
OpenAlex
W3108643929
Cited by
4
References
31
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2022: 1
FWCI
0.18
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • The Journals of Gerontology Series B (publishedVersion)
  • Research portal (Tilburg University) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Amsterdam UMC (VU Amsterdam) - Institutional Repository (publishedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion)
  • Data Archiving and Networked Services (DANS) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • Pure Amsterdam UMC (submittedVersion, other-oa)
Funders
The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (733050403, 7330504031)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Geriatric Care and Nursing Homes
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Palliative Care and End-of-Life Issues
Keywords
dementia, cohabiting couples, caregiver health, dementia diagnosis, institutionalization, death of a partner, health transition, gastrointestinal problems, urological problems, caregiver burden
MeSH terms
Adaptation, Psychological, Aged, Dementia, Family Characteristics, Family Relations, Female, Humans, Institutionalization, Male, Netherlands, Social Support, Caregivers, Self Efficacy

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