Disruptions in Support Networks of People Living With Dementia: Evidence From a National Study of Caregiver Networks

Background People living with dementia rely on informal support that may be especially vulnerable to social restrictions such as those imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic. Objective To assess whether family and friends supporting adults with dementia were more likely to discontinue assistance during the pandemic than those supporting adults with other chronic conditions. Methods Using nationally representative data from 2,037 U.S. current caregivers reporting on 7,742 supporters within their care networks, multilevel logistic regression identified factors associated with discontinued support. Results Ten percent of supporters withdrew help. Those assisting care recipients with dementia had higher odds of withdrawal (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.02–1.92). Supporters who were friends or distant relatives of the caregiver were more likely to withdraw than those who were close family, while strongly connected or dual-role supporters were less likely to withdraw (OR = 0.07, 95% CI 0.05–0.10). Higher caregiver income buffered against loss.