Adult day services, leisure time satisfaction, and psychosocial well-being among dementia caregivers

Dementia caregivers experience high levels of emotional burden, and adult day services (ADS) may provide respite that allows for recovery from caregiving demands. Yet little is known about whether ADS respite contributes to greater leisure time satisfaction-an important aspect of caregivers' respite experiences that may impact psychosocial well-being.

This secondary analysis used pooled longitudinal data from five national U.S. studies (REACH I, REACH II, Community REACH, Video to Video Network, and Caring for the Caregiving Network), totaling 2,417 dementia caregivers. Descriptive statistics and mixed-effects logistic and linear regression models with multiple imputation examined factors associated with ADS respite use and its longitudinal association with leisure time satisfaction, accounting for relevant covariates. Associations between leisure time satisfaction and psychosocial outcomes were examined.

ADS use was associated with more years of education and greater leisure time satisfaction among caregivers. Use of ADS respite was also associated with more functional limitations (IADLs) in the care recipient and less bother about care recipients' IADL impairment among caregivers. Compared with non-use, ADS use was associated with higher leisure time satisfaction. Greater leisure time satisfaction was associated with less burden and loneliness as well as more social support and positive aspects of caregiving.

ADS use was associated with greater leisure time satisfaction, which in turn was related to caregiver well-being. Interventions that promote caregivers' use of respite for satisfying activities and policies that expand access to ADS may maximize psychosocial benefits for dementia caregivers.