Experiences of people with intellectual disability and dementia: A systematic review

"How will we cope?" Couples With Intellectual Disability Where One Partner Has a Diagnosis of Dementia

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

People with intellectual disability are at increased risk of dementia at an earlier age. This is the first study to explore experiences of couples with an intellectual disability when one partner has dementia.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Four people with intellectual disability whose partner had dementia and one partner who had both an intellectual disability and dementia took part in narrative life story interviews. One of the interviews was conducted as a couple giving direct perspectives from 4 couples overall. Additionally, 13 semistructured interviews were conducted with 9 social care professionals and 4 family members. This provided perspectives of the relationships of a further 4 couples, which collectively led to data on 8 couples.

RESULTS

The emotional impact of a dementia diagnosis, planning for the future, and fear of separation was noted by couples with intellectual disability. Partners took on caring roles thus challenging views of being solely care-receivers. Families spoke of commitment and longevity in relationships, whilst social care staff highlighted how their own information needs changed recognizing the importance of intellectual disability and dementia-specific knowledge.

DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS

Couples with intellectual disability continue to enjoy intimate relationships into later life and will face common conditions in older age including dementia. Those who provide support need to ensure that they are sensitive to the previous experience and life story of each couple and have specific knowledge of how dementia can affect people with intellectual disability.

Exploring the lived experience: impact of dementia diagnosis on individuals with cognitive impairment - a qualitative study

OBJECTIVE

Although knowledge about the experience of being diagnosed with dementia is limited, with the expected rise in dementia's prevalence in the coming decades, such knowledge is pivotal for the people diagnosed, their families, and healthcare planners. Thus, the aim of our study was to explore the experience of living with cognitive impairment and dementia and the impact of being diagnosed with dementia.

METHOD

A qualitative design was applied. Participants were recruited based on age-adjusted values below ​​threshold values on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment Scale (i.e. 70-79 years, < 22; 80-89 years, < 21; 90 + years, < 20), and the sample ultimately included 15 participants: six with and nine without a documented dementia diagnosis. Qualitative content analysis was performed on the transcribed interviews in four steps to identify codes, categories, and the overall theme.

RESULTS

Three major categories emerged from the interviews: (1) experiences with changes, (2) experiences with being diagnosed with dementia, and (3) existential experience. All participants with and most participants without a dementia diagnosis experienced changes in cognition.

CONCLUSION

Our findings imply that being diagnosed with dementia is a relief because it explains observed cognitive and functional decreases and reduces confusion, shame and stigma. However, it also raises concerns about an unknown future. Most participants not diagnosed with dementia reported having little or no difficulty with everyday living and leading a fulfilling life. Those findings emphasise the significance of timely versus early diagnosis.