Decision-making involvement of individuals with dementia.
OBJECTIVE
Research underscores how autonomy and decision-making involvement may help to enhance the quality of life of older adults; however, individuals with dementia are often excluded from decision making that is related to their daily functioning. In this study we use a modified version of the Stress Process Model to consider the stress process of individuals with chronic illness, and in particular to explore the predictors of decision-making involvement among individuals with dementia (n = 215).


METHODS
We collected data from individual with dementia (IWD)-family caregiver dyads. Relying primarily on data from the IWD, we used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the predictors of the IWD's decision-making involvement.


RESULTS
Results indicate that individuals who report more decision-making involvement are younger, female, have more education, have a nonspousal caregiver, have fewer months since their diagnosis, exhibit fewer problems with activities of daily living and fewer depressive symptoms (based on caregiver report), and place more importance on autonomy/self-identity.


CONCLUSIONS
In our discussion we examine the importance of autonomy and impairment levels for understanding the decision-making involvement of persons with dementia.
Menne
Heather L
HL
Margaret Blenkner Research Institute, Benjamin Rose Institute, 11900 Fairhill Road, Suite 300, Cleveland, OH 44120-1053, USA. hmenne@benrose.org
Whitlatch
Carol J
CJ
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D003657:Decision Making; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009820:Ohio; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012495:San Francisco; D017678:Sex Distribution; D013315:Stress, Psychological