The felt age of spousal caregivers is connected to the felt age of their loved ones living with dementia, according to a study from the University of Surrey. This perceived age in people with dementia and their caregivers is related to their own wellbeing, satisfaction with life, and self-confidence. Felt age is defined as how old someone feels compared to their real age.
It's measured by asking people to report whether they feel younger, the same, or older than their actual age. This concept helps understand how people see their own aging, which can affect their mental and physical health and predict important health outcomes, including mortality. Understanding the interconnectedness of felt age between people with dementia and their spousal caregivers is crucial.
Our findings highlight the importance of relationship quality in aligning perceptions of aging. Our research suggests that caregivers' younger felt age may positively influence the wellbeing of people with dementia. This underscores the need for interventions and policies that support both caregivers and care recipients, fostering healthier aging experiences and enhancing the quality of life within these caregiving relationships.
" Dr. Serena Sabatini, first-author of the study from the University of Surrey Surrey's researchers examined data from the British IDEAL study undertaken between 2014 and 2016. The data includes 1001 pairs of people living with dementia and their spouses.
Participants' ages ranged from 41 t.
