Influence of primary and community care service use on hospitalisation among people with dementia in the last three months of life: A mixed-methods secondary analysis of national survey data

Health

Influence of primary and community care service use on hospitalisation among people with dementia in the last three months of life: A mixed-methods secondary analysis of national survey data

Hospital admissions in the final months of life can be distressing for people with dementia and their families, yet they remain common.

In this project we analyse nationally representative survey data from bereaved families in England and Wales to explore how use of primary and community care services – like GPs and home-based palliative care – is associated with hospitalisation rates in the last 3 months of life.

Using both quantitative (numerical) and qualitative (free-text) data, we will explore patterns of care service use among people with dementia and find out if there are specific barriers that explain unplanned hospital admissions.

By identifying what helps people stay out of hospital, this research will inform policies and improve community-based end of life care for people with dementia.

Aims

The aim of this project is to understand how primary and community care service use is associated with hospitalisation among people with dementia in their last three months of life.

We will:

describe how people with dementia use primary and community health and care services in their final three months.
investigate the association between using these services and being hospitalised.
explore the experiences of bereaved families to better understand different care patterns happen and identify what helps or hinders timely access to care in the community.