Factors associated with care partner identification and education among hospitalized persons living with dementia

• Published in: PEC innovation 2024-12, Vol.5, p.100320, Article 100320
• Main Authors: Medlin, Austin R., Werner, Nicole E., Still, Catherine Z., Strayer, Andrea L., Fields, Beth E.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alzheimer's disease and related dementias; Caregiving; Electronic health records; Hospital care; Inclusion
• ISSN: 2772-6282; 2772-6282
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pecinn.2024.100320

Care partners of persons living with dementia (PLWD) often feel unprepared to care for their loved ones. Improving PLWD care partner identification and education during hospital stays can improve preparedness. This retrospective EHR study investigated PLWD characteristics that may relate to care partner identification, education, and teaching methods during hospital stays. Encounters from a Midwestern academic healthcare system were used. Patients were over 18, had a documented dementia diagnosis, were admitted to the hospital for at least 24 h, and had information documented in care partner or education data fields (N = 7982). Logistic regressions assessed patient's demographics, care partner identification and education. Chi-square tests compared education teaching methods and patient discharge location. PLWD's who were unmarried, discharged to other care facilities, or received the diagnosis “degeneration of nervous system due to alcohol” were associated with lacking care partner identification. Care partners of unmarried PLWDs or those with the diagnosis “Alzheimer's disease, unspecified” received less education. Multiple teaching methods were associated with discharge location. Multiple characteristics were related to PLWD care partner identification and education differences during hospital stays. Novel analyses highlight need for a protocol to systematically prepare dementia care partners. •Differences in dementia care partner identification exists.•Unmarried patients with dementia had lower levels of care partner identification.•Patients discharged to other care facilities had less care partner identification.•Patient marital status and dementia type predicted care partner education levels.•Written and verbal teaching methods were the most common modes of education.