The legalities of managing finances and paying for future care in dementia: A UK-based qualitative study

Giebel, Clarissa ORCID: 0000-0002-0746-0566, Halpin, Kath, O'Connell, Lena and Carton, Joan (2023) The legalities of managing finances and paying for future care in dementia: A UK-based qualitative study Aging and Mental Health, 27 (12). pp. 2403-2409. ISSN 1360-7863, 1364-6915

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Abstract

Background: Managing finances in dementia and on someone else’s behalf can be difficult, especially with navigating the legalities surrounding this activity. With a lack of previous evidence, the aim of this qualitative study was to explore how people living with dementia and unpaid carers are planning the financing of dementia care and deal with legal issues surrounding finances. Methods: We recruited people living with dementia and unpaid carers from across the UK between February and May 2022. The topic guide was developed with two unpaid carers as advisers, and both contributed to the analysis and interpretation of findings, as well as dissemination. Participants were interviewed remotely, and transcripts analysed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Thirty unpaid carers and people with dementia participated. We generated three themes: Changes to family dynamics; Barriers to implementing legal arrangements in practice; Planning to pay for future care. Arranging financial management involved difficult family dynamics for some, including strained relationships between the carer and person cared for, and among carers. There was little to no guidance on how finances should be handled, causing difficulties in the implementation even when legal agreements were in place. The lack of guidance was equally experienced for information about how to pay for care and plan for paying for future care. Conclusions: Post-diagnostic support needs to include legal and financial advice, with clearer guidance on how to access financial support to pay for care. Future quantitative research should explore the link between economic background and access to financial support.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Dementia, finance management, activities of daily living, care costs, dementia and cognitive disorders, functional status, costs < services
Divisions:	Faculty of Health & Life Sciences Faculty of Health & Life Sciences > Inst. Population Health
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	16 May 2023 09:54
Last Modified:	16 Jun 2026 15:14
DOI:	10.1080/13607863.2023.2209035
Related Websites:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3170397
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