Living Arrangements and Dementia Care Networks: Variations in Size, Composition, and Care Tasks

The findings reveal that while those living alone with dementia have larger networks, these helpers, often including non-kin, provide less practical support, indicating potential unmet needs. In contrast, spousal caregivers shoulder a substantial care burden with limited additional support. Diversified networks in multi-person households distribute care but may complexify coordination. These insights underscore the need for tailored interventions to support caregivers and enhance care for older adults based on living arrangements. Future research should investigate how these network dynamics influence health outcomes and service utilization.