title: The quality of life of people with dementia and their family carers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We aimed to identify factors associated with the quality of life (QoL) of 'persons with dementia' (PWDs) and their family carers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two-hundred and thirty dyads of PWDs and their family carers were included. The PWDs were assessed with the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI-Q), two Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scales, the Cornell Scale and the QoL-Alzheimer's Disease scale (QoL-AD; self- and proxy-reported scores). The carers were assessed with the QoL-AD and the Geriatric Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Factors associated with self-reported QoL were depression (β = -0.26, p < 0.001) and impaired ADL (β = -0.26, p < 0.001) and with proxy-rated QoL were NPI (β = -0.18, p = 0.02), depression (β = -0.32, p < 0.001) and impaired ADL (β = -0.43, p < 0.001). Factors associated with QoL in carers living together with the PWDs were depression (β = -0.56, p < 0.001) and having a hobby (β = 0.19, p = 0.01), whereas depression was associated with QoL in those who lived separately from the PWD (β = -0.60, p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Depression and impaired ADL were associated with the self- and proxy-rated QoL of the PWDs, whereas depression in the carers negatively affected their QoL.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Centre for Dementia Research, Ullevaal University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. froydis.bruvik@aldringoghelse.no
authors.forename: Froydis Kristine
authors.initials: FK
authors.lastname: Bruvik
authors.forename: Ingun Dina
authors.initials: ID
authors.lastname: Ulstein
authors.forename: Anette Hylen
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Ranhoff
authors.forename: Knut
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Engedal
mesh_terms: D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology*; D003625:Data Collection; D003704:Dementia / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000523:psychology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006686:Hobbies; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009790:Occupations; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D011788:Quality of Life; D012737:Sex Factors