Identifying predictors of transition to a care home for people with dementia:findings from the IDEAL programme

Objectives: This study investigates factors associated with the person with dementia and the caregiverto identify those associated with an increased risk of transition to a care home.Method: IDEAL data were collected at baseline and at 12- and 24-month follow-up for 1545 peoplewith dementia and 1305 caregivers. Modified Poisson regressions with an offset for ‘person years at risk’ were used. Person with dementia factors explored were personal characteristics, cognition, health,self- and informant-rated functional ability, and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Caregiver factors explored were personal characteristics, stress, health, and quality of the dyadic relationship.Results: A 5% people moved into care. Risk of moving into a care home was higher among people with dementia who were ≥80 years, among people with Parkinson’s disease dementia or dementia with Lewy bodies, and among those without a spousal caregiver. Poorer cognition and more self-rated or informant-rated functional difficulties increased the risk of moving into care.Conclusion: Factors related to increased dementia severity and greater disability are the primary influences that place people with dementia at greater risk of moving into a care home. Strategies that help to maintain everyday functional ability for people with dementia could help delay people with dementia moving into care.