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Symposium

Health Sciences

Navigating Dementia Caregiving After Hospitalization: Care Partner Experiences

Friday, November 15, 2024
10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
Location: Room 609
CE: 1.5

Hospitalization and the post-acute transitional period are particularly vulnerable, yet largely underexamined period, in the person living with dementia and their family care partners. The care receivers’ increased care dependency and complex medical and psychosocial needs compound the chronic stress of care partners, and demand new and intensified levels of preparedness. This symposium examines the experiences of care partners and the factors impacting their preparedness and affective responses during transition from hospital to home, using data from the Family-centered Function-Focused Care (Fam-FFC) trial. The first presentation will examine the mediating effects of patient clinical factors on the relationship between care partner preparedness and desire to seek long-term care admission at the time of hospital discharge. Next, the needs for preparedness during transition from hospitalization, as reported by care partners will be discussed. The third paper will describe care partner characteristics that influence care partner preparedness at hospital discharge, and two- and six-months post-discharge. The final presentation will report on the mediational relationship among behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), associated care partner distress, and care partner adverse outcomes from hospital discharge to six-month follow-up. Concluding the symposium, we will engage in a discussion to address unanswered questions, propose future research directions, and explore the broader implications of the findings for policy and practice.

Learning Objectives:

  • After attending this session, participants will be able to describe characteristics and needs that influence care partner preparedness during hospital discharge and the subsequent post-discharge period.
  • After attending this session, participants will gain a deeper understanding of the interplay between behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD), care partners distress, and care partner outcomes following acute hospitalization.

Presentations:

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Dementia Care Partner Preparedness and Desire to Seek Long-Term Care at Hospital Discharge

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Ashley Kuzmik, DrPH, MPH – The Pennsylvania State University

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Preparedness Needs of the Family Care Partner of the Person With Dementia During Transition From the Hospital

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Marie Boltz, PhD, GNP-BC, FGSA, FAAN (she/her/hers) – The Pennsylvania State University

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Family Care Partner's Preparedness in Caring for Hospitalized Persons With Dementia

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Anju Paudel, PhD, MGS, RN – The Pennsylvania State University

  • 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM PST
    Association of BPSD and Care Partner Outcomes Mediated by Care Partner Distress

    Individual Symposium Abstract First Author: Diane Berish, PhD – The Pennsylvania State University