Up to 80% of patients with heart failure (HF) have vascular dementia, the second most common form of dementia. In the U.S, West Virginia (WV) has the top Alzheimer’s disease related dementias (ADRD) death rate (42.4 per 100,000 population) and HF death rate (32.6 per 100,000 population). Currently, in WV, more than 38,000 people are living with dementia, and over 107,000 families are providing home care and this is estimated to increase by 15.8% in 2025.
Cognitive decline in patients with HF can affect their ability to comply with treatment regimens, difficulty in reading, writing, understanding dosage, and thinking logically. Also, cognitive decline of vascular dementia limits individuals’ ability to identify and report symptoms of HF complications.
This nurse-led multidisciplinary research project uses mixed methods research to identify and tailor interventions that are responsive to the needs of individuals with heart failure (HF) and vascular dementia, and their family caregivers in rural Appalachia.
The study outcomes will result in more in-depth understanding of the family home care situation for HF with vascular dementia. The supplement data will stimulate research activities with rural families managing HF complicated by dementia at home. Data collected will be used for planning a future trial.