Dementia Care Models

Dementia Care Models

Introduction

Dementia care models are designed to address the complex needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. These models aim to reduce the burden on caregivers and care recipients by providing comprehensive care across the full care continuum, including primary care, home health care, adult day care, nursing home, assisted living, and hospice.

Research and Development

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) has been actively involved in supporting research and development of dementia care models. The NIA has funded scientific meetings, workshops, and summits to identify research gaps and opportunities in informal and formal caregiving, caregiver health and wellbeing, and care models.

Key Accomplishments

The NIA's efforts have led to several key accomplishments, including:

• Definition and characterization of informal and formal caregiving
• Identification of domains of needs for caregivers and care recipients
• Development of recommendations for research priorities on the impact of caregiving on caregiver health and wellbeing
• Funding of research programs and resources, such as the National Research Summit on Care, Services and Supports for Persons with Dementia and Their Caregivers

Research Programs and Resources

The NIA has funded several research programs and resources to support the development of dementia care models, including:

• Gaps in the Dementia Care Workforce: Research Update and Data Needs
• Expert Meeting on the Demography of the Older Residential Care Population: Research Questions and Data Gaps
• Decadal Survey of Behavioral and Social Science Research on Alzheimer's Disease and Alzheimer's Disease-Related Dementias

Recommendations

The NIA has developed recommendations for research priorities and programs to inform the development of new dementia care models. These recommendations include:

• Research on biopsychosocial factors of social connectedness and isolation on health, wellbeing, illness, and recovery
• Invitation for Input on the 2023 National Research Summit on Care, Services, and Supports for Persons Living with Dementia and their Caregivers/Care Partners

Conclusion

Dementia care models are critical to addressing the complex needs of individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The NIA's research and funding initiatives have led to significant advancements in the understanding and development of these models. Continued research and development are necessary to improve the quality of care and reduce the burden on caregivers and care recipients.