Young-onset dementia: Investigating timelines of admission to aged residential care and health outcomes

Young-onset dementia: Investigating timelines of admission to aged residential care and health outcomes

Author:
Publication type: 
Journal Article
Year: 
2025
Journal/Series title: 
Australasian psychiatry : bulletin of Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists
Pages: 
2147483647
ISSN/ISBN: 
1440-1665
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 (M