Patterns of Social Participation Among Community-Dwelling People With Dementia in Japan: Individual and Neighborhood Correlates
Satoko Fujihara, Taiji Noguchi, Kenjiro Kawaguchi, Katsunori KondoBackground
Social participation supports quality of life among people with dementia, yet participation patterns and their correlates remain poorly understood.
Objective
To identify patterns of leisure activities, community group participation, and social contact and their individual and neighborhood correlates.
Methods
We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study–Home Care linked with Long-Term Care Insurance records (
Results
Three classes were identified: Broad (10.1%), Relationship-based (21.9%), and Limited (68.0%). Compared with Limited participation, both other classes were associated with younger age, living alone, greater functional independence, lower dementia severity, and more favorable perceived walkability and availability of parks or walking paths.
Conclusions
Findings suggest that participation support should consider individual characteristics and perceived characteristics of the neighborhood physical environment.