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

Death Stud. 2023;47(5):592-599. doi: 10.1080/07481187.2022.2113479. Epub 2022 Aug 21.

Abstract

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.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Caregivers
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Dementia*
  • Grief*
  • Humans
  • Self Report
  • Spouses