Queen's University Belfast

Academic Institute

Bernadette McGuinness

E042

Approximately one-third of community-dwelling people with dementia in the UK and the United States, and 51% of people with dementia in Germany live alone (Eichler et al., 2016). In 2010, there were 141,460 people with dementia living alone in the UK (Miranda-Castillo et al, 2010). Research has explored differences between people with dementia living alone with those who live with an informal caregiver. No difference was found in drug-related problems, nutrition, quality of life, cognitive and functional impairment; however, people living alone used professional services, such as home care, more often (Eichler et al., 2016). Other research explored the unmet needs for people with dementia who live alone (Miranda-Castillo, Woods, & Orrell, 2010). These unmet needs include help with looking after home, help with self-care, and having company. In Sweden, people with Alzheimer’s disease who live alone were more likely to receive antidepressants, antipsychotics, hypnotics and sedative drugs compared to people who live with an informal caregiver (Cermakova et al., 2017). On the other hand, people living with a caregiver were more likely to receive cholinesterase inhibitors and cardiovascular medications. A significant difference was also found in dementia medication because people living with a caregiver were more likely to receive memantine than people living alone. This study explores medication differences between people with dementia living alone, or living with an informal caregiver, or people with dementia living in care homes in Northern Ireland. The living arrangements of people with dementia will be initially measured through the Northern Ireland patient register alongside subsequent changes in marital status and transitions in care homes. A limitation of this study concerns the proxies to find the living arrangements of people with dementia (i.e. the marital status’ data and the patient register) because this data might not be updated across the years. However, at present further data relating to carers isn't available through the HBS so we are limited as to what can be done in this area.

According to the DHSSPSNI’s Regional Strategy for Improving Dementia Services 2011, 19,000 people were believed to be living with dementia in Northern Ireland, and the total cost of care for dementia was estimated at £476m; the number of people with dementia is projected to increase to 60,000 by 2051 1. Cancer is the leading cause of death in Northern Ireland, and the diagnoses of cancer is increasing.9 With the forecasted increase of both cancer and dementia cases, there is a clear need to understand the relationship between cancer and dementia. Understanding the relationship between dementia and cancer has the potential to improve public policy and improve health care services for people with dementia and cancer.

07/05/2019

TRE