title: [Users of regional dementia care networks in Germany : First results of the evaluation study DemNet-D].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In Germany a growing number of community-based support services for people with dementia (PwD) and their caregivers are organized in dementia care networks (DCN), which provide a single point of entry to social facilities and offer personal care and support.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to describe the health, functional and social characteristics of PwDs enrolled in DCNs throughout Germany because no data are currently available on this aspect.
  
  
  METHODS
  As part of the multi-center, multi-professional 12-month follow-up study DemNet-D, data on functional and psychological health, sociodemographic and dementia-specific factors and social inclusion were collected in standardized interviews with PwDs living at home.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 560 PwDs with an average age of 80 years were enrolled in the study. Of the participants approximately 50 % had Alzheimer's dementia and more than 75 % demonstrated at least a challenging form of behavior. More than half of the participants lived together with a partner or relative. Instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) were very limited; nevertheless, one in five PwDs showed no long-term care-dependency level. The participants reported having a relatively low feeling of loneliness and a high feeling of social inclusion, depending on the severity of dementia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is one of the very first studies generating data on PwDs who receive domiciliary care within DCNs in Germany. The results suggest that the regional DCNs make a successful contribution to overcoming the interface problem and can, therefore, contribute to a more stable care situation and better social integration of PwDs.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Public Health und Pflegeforschung (IPP), Universität Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland. wolf-ostermann@uni-bremen.de.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wolf-Ostermann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Public Health und Pflegeforschung (IPP), Universität Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Saskia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Meyer
authors.affiliation: Institut für Public Health und Pflegeforschung (IPP), Universität Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Annika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.affiliation: Kompetenzzentrum für Klinische Studien, Universität Bremen, Linzer Str. 4, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schritz
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e. V. (DZNE) Standort Witten, Stockumer Str. 12, 58453, Witten, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Holle
authors.affiliation: Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V. (DZNE) Rostock/Greifswald, Ellernholzstr. 1-2, 17489, Greifswald, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wübbeler
authors.affiliation: Institut für angewandte Sozialwissenschaften (IfaS), DHBW Stuttgart, Rotebühlstr. 131, 70197, Stuttgart, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schäfer-Walkmann
authors.affiliation: Institut für Public Health und Pflegeforschung (IPP), Universität Bremen, Grazer Str. 4, 28359, Bremen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gräske
mesh_terms: D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003704:Dementia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008132:Loneliness / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015995:Prevalence; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology; D058992:Social Participation / Q000523:psychology*; D014600:Utilization Review
keywords: Acceptance; Health care research; Loneliness; Social inclusion; Social participation