CAREGIVING FOR OLDER ADULTS LIVING WITH DEMENTIA AND CONCURRENT HEARING LOSS
2024

Caregiving for Older Adults with Dementia and Hearing Loss

Sample size: 1445 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Lewis Charity, Zhang Wuyang, Reed Nicholas, Sanchez Victoria, Arnold Michelle, Haley William

Primary Institution: University of South Florida

Hypothesis

How does concurrent hearing loss and dementia affect caregiving stressors and appraisals?

Conclusion

Caregivers of older adults with both hearing loss and dementia may experience greater caregiving intensity.

Supporting Evidence

  • The prevalence of hearing loss among care recipients with dementia was high at 87%.
  • 30% of caregivers were assisting older adults with both hearing loss and dementia.
  • A 10-dB increase in care recipients' hearing was linked to a 35% increase in caregiving time.

Takeaway

This study shows that taking care of older people who have both hearing loss and dementia can be harder and take more time.

Methodology

The study used data from the National Health and Aging Trends Study and National Study on Caregiving to analyze caregiving stressors.

Participant Demographics

Mean age of caregivers was 61 years, with 68% female; care recipients had a mean age of 82 years, with 66% female and 59% non-Hispanic White.

Statistical Information

Confidence Interval

95% CI: 9%-68%

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1093/geroni/igae098.2527

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