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How Do Spouses Experience Living Alone After Their Partner With Dementia Moves Into a Care Home?
Barbara Pope1, Leslie Gelling1, Sharon Holland1
1Bournemouth University Fern Barrow, Poole, Dorset, UK.
Journal of Clinical Nursing
|June 2, 2025
Summary
Spouses of dementia patients face significant challenges, including loss and mental health issues, after their partner moves to a care home. More research is needed to identify effective interventions for these community-dwelling spouses.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Psychology
- Sociology
Background:
- Over 311,000 people with dementia reside in care homes.
- Their spouses often experience anxiety and distress when living alone.
- This review focuses on the experiences of community-dwelling spouses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review spouses' lives after a partner with dementia moves to a care home.
- To identify established knowledge and research gaps.
- To explore the impact on spouses' social, mental, and physical health.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of peer-reviewed papers (2002-2022) from English-speaking countries.
- Inclusion/exclusion criteria applied, with 8 papers selected (5 qualitative, 3 quantitative).
- Papers analyzed using Critical Appraisal and Skills Programme (CASP) and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist.
Main Results:
- Thematic analysis revealed three key themes: loss of shared life, challenges with visiting, and persistent grief/depression.
- These factors negatively impact the physical and mental health of community-dwelling spouses.
- Increased risk of depression was noted in spouses experiencing these challenges.
Conclusions:
- Evidence shows spouses' health is a barrier to moving forward after partner's institutionalization.
- The needs of community-dwelling spouses are under-researched.
- Further research is required to develop and time appropriate interventions.
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