Patterns of long-term care utilization during the last five years of life among Swedish older adults with and without dementia

Abstract

AbstractAimsThe aims of this study were to compare the patterns of long-term care (LTC) use (no care, homecare, residential care) among people with and without dementia aged 70+ in Sweden during their last five years of life and its association with sociodemographic factors and time with a dementia diagnosis.MethodsThis retrospective cohort study included all people who died in November 2019 aged 70 years and older (n=6294) derived from several national registers. A multinomial logistic regression was conducted to identify which sociodemographic factors predicted the patterns of LTC use and predicted proportions were calculated from the margins command.ResultsResults showed that the time with a dementia diagnosis and cohabitation status were important predictors that influence the patterns of LTC use during the last five years of life. Nearly three-quarters of people living with dementia (PlwD) used residential care during the last five years of life. PlwD were more likely to reside in residential care close to death. Women who lived alone, with or without dementia, used residential care to a higher degree compared to married or cohabiting women.ConclusionsAmong people without a dementia diagnosis, as well as those who were newly diagnosed, it was common to have no LTC at all, or use LTC only for a brief period close to death. During the last five years of life, PlwD who were living alone more often entered LTC early and used residential care for a longer time compared to those without dementia.