Examining Help-Seeking Behavior in People Living Alone With Cognitive Impairment

More than 4 million people in the United States live alone with cognitive impairment or early dementia, yet research on their experiences is limited. Previous research has shown this population has higher levels of unmet care needs and lower financial resources than their married peers. By exploring the experiences of people living alone with cognitive impairment (PLACI), this research examines the successes and barriers within their journey to inform how interventions can improve their quality of life. We conducted qualitative interviews with 15 PLACI (median age 69, 87% white, and 80% female) to explore perceptions of future care needs and resources. Through a modified ideal-type analysis, participants' thought processes and actions regarding help-seeking were mapped to the five stages of the transtheoretical model. These perspectives suggest opportunities such as connecting them to community social work that could help facilitate their understanding of their needs, help them identify resources, and promote proactive aging.