Aims: Dementia is a growing health challenge linked to significant disability, dependency, and caregiver burden. Informal caregivers often face a variety of unmet needs, yet there has been no recent evaluation of these needs in Singapore. This study examines the spectrum of unmet needs among caregivers of patients with dementia admitted to a Singapore Community Hospital and explores associated factors.
Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire to assess the unmet needs of informal caregivers of patients with dementia admitted between March and October 2023. A total of 77 caregiver-patient dyads were recruited. The Caregivers’ Needs Checklist for Dementia (CNCD) assessed caregivers’ unmet needs across five domains, and additional data on caregivers’ sociodemographic, health-related, and caregiving-related information were collected. Concurrently, sociodemographic and health-related information of corresponding patients were collected through electronic medical records. Analysis focused on determining the prevalence and spectrum of unmet needs and identifying caregiver- and patient-related factors associated with higher unmet needs.
Results: 85% (n=66) of caregivers reported at least one unmet need, with an average of eight unmet needs per caregiver. The most frequently cited unmet needs were in the domains of information and informal support. Retired or non-working caregivers (OR: 0.159, p=0.009) and those engaged in daily caregiving (OR: 0.167, p=0.028) were less likely to report high unmet needs.
Conclusion: Caregivers face substantial unmet needs, particularly in information and informal support. Targeted interventions are essential to bridge these gaps. Larger studies are needed to validate these findings and inform policy and practice.