A 3-UK-nation survey on dementia and the cost of living crisis: Contributions of gender and ethnicity on struggling to pay for social care

Giebel, Clarissa ORCID: 0000-0002-0746-0566 and Heath, Bronte (2023) A 3-UK-nation survey on dementia and the cost of living crisis: Contributions of gender and ethnicity on struggling to pay for social care. Aging and Mental Health, 27 (12). pp. 2368-2376.

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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of this 3-UK-nation online survey was to explore the impact of the cost of living crisis on the lives of people with dementia and their carers, specifically on their ability to access social care and support services, and the contributions of gender and ethnic background. Methods: A 3-UK-nation (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) 31-item online survey was conducted in October 2022 asking people with dementia, carers, and people knowing but not caring for someone with dementia about social care and support service access, cost of living crisis, and changes due to the cost of living crisis. Frequency analysis and Chi-square analysis were employed to assess whether forms of payment for services varied by gender. Pearson correlation analysis and binary logistic regression were used to assess whether gender and ethnicity were associated with struggling to pay for care since the crisis. Results: A total of 1,095 people with dementia, unpaid carers, and people who knew but not cared for someone with dementia participated. Of those, 745 people with dementia were utilising community-based social care and support services. Twenty percent of those with complete data had reduced their spending on care services since the crisis. Men and those from non-white ethnic backgrounds were at significantly increased odds of struggling to pay for care services. Conclusions: The cost of living crisis has led to exacerbated inequalities in accessing and using dementia care. Men and those from non-white ethnic backgrounds in particular need to receive greater support in accessing care.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Humans, Dementia, Social Support, Caregivers, England, Male, Ethnicity
Divisions:	Faculty of Health and Life Sciences Faculty of Health and Life Sciences > Institute of Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	27 Mar 2023 07:48
Last Modified:	03 Nov 2023 20:39
DOI:	10.1080/13607863.2023.2197845
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3169243