Utilization of formal and informal care in dementia: a comparative study between Sweden and Italy

People living with dementia using eldercare in Sweden

“…Several studies have developed a mapping system for dementia care in Sweden (Lethin et al, 2019;. The results suggest positive implications of the mapping system in order to explore and compare professional care services for PlwD as well as their caregivers.…”

“…Eldercare for PlwD in Sweden found gender-based inequality in the utilization of and access to social care support (Levesque et al, 2013). For example, more men (59%) with dementia living at home with homecare services whereas women (59%) were more likely to receive residential care (Lethin et al, 2019). One explanation is that women have higher life expectancy than men and women often marry men older than themselves.…”

“…Two recent studies investigated the professional care organization for PlwD in nine different Swedish municipalities (Lethin, Scandali, et al, 2018;Vingare et al, 2020) and found four available care services for PlwD: (1) Support to family caregivers in the form of supportive units for family caregivers, respite care, education in dementia, and consulting and guiding services. PlwD with moderate or severe stages of dementia and their caregivers generally utilize more services.…”

“…Several studies in Sweden found that individuals with dementia living at home have more severe neuropsychiatric symptoms (e.g., agitation, depression, apathy, delusions, hallucinations, and sleep impairment) than those living in residential care (Lethin et al, 2019). It is also very common that caregivers of home dwelling PlwD have significantly higher caregiving burden.…”

“…It is also very common that caregivers of home dwelling PlwD have significantly higher caregiving burden. This might be explained by the fact that PlwD living at home may not be willing to seek care as well as the caregiver's burden may create a hostile and difficult home environment for them (Lethin et al, 2019). Nonetheless, the reason may also be related to a lack of health literacy among PlwD and their caregivers and their dementiarelated negative beliefs (Levesque et al, 2013).…”