The Two-Track Model of Dementia Grief and spousal response to illness and death

This cross-sectional study examined the experiences of healthy spouses caring for their partners via the Two-Track Model of Dementia Grief thereby broadening our understanding of the functional and relational aspects of this process. The 122 participating older adults had spouses drawn from four groups: mild to moderate cognitive-impairment; advanced cognitive-impairment; deceased following dementia; and, healthy controls. They completed a battery of self-report measures. Results showed elevated scores on both tracks of the model for all affected groups. Assisting spouses of those living with cognitive-impairment begins with the earliest symptoms of decline and continues after the death of the loved one.

Automated summary

This cross-sectional study explores the experiences of healthy spouses caring for partners with dementia, providing insights into the functional and relational aspects of this process. Results indicate that all affected groups had elevated scores on both tracks of the model.