2024 Volume 27 Issue 2 Pages 14-22
Objective: In this study, subjective cognitive function was used as an indicator of the effectiveness of caregiving prevention. We hypothesized that older adults’ intention to provide lifestyle support, in addition to its actual provision, would contribute to caregiving prevention. We investigated the cross-sectional associations between subjective cognitive decline among community-dwelling older adults, their intention to become providers of lifestyle support, and the actual implementation of lifestyle support.
Methods: A questionnaire-based survey was conducted between June and July, 2018 among 881 older adults (age ≥ 65 years) residing in the C district, B Town, A Prefecture. Subjective cognitive decline was assessed through a self-administered dementia checklist.
Results: Data from 493 participants were analyzed. Compared to the group without subjective cognitive decline, a higher proportion of participants in the group exhibiting such a decline refused to provide lifestyle support. The logistic regression analysis showed that the intention to provide lifestyle support was no longer associated with subjective cognitive decline when implementation was included in the model. Those who did not provide lifestyle support were more likely to show subjective cognitive decline (odds ratio: 2.65; 95% confidence interval: 1.39–5.08).
Discussion: Therefore, the provision of lifestyle support and subjective cognitive decline were found to be associated. Multidimensional verifications, including long-term surveys, and comparative analyses of results from other regions are required to devise improved lifestyle support health systems tailored for older adults.
