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“Diagnose & Adios”: Multi-Perspective Insights on Formal Service Use in Dementia Family Caregivers
Francesca B. Falzarano, Annabelle Greenfield, Francesco Osso, Katerina Bumbalova, Rachel F. Bloom. The Gerontologist, 2025-02-21
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Three overarching concepts were identified: "Pathways to Preparedness'", 'Multi-Level Barriers', and 'Bridging the Gap.' Findings reflected caregivers" need for support in 4 core areas: (a) dementia-specific education/training; (b) competent mental health support; (c) financial/legal navigation, and (4) emergency readiness. Results revealed cross-dimensional barriers across individual-, provider-, and systemic-contexts impeding HCBS access and utilization. Personalized caregiving navigation and technology were deemed potential solutions to facilitate clearer clinical pathways between unmet needs and relevant services. DISCUSSION AND Results underscore the complexity of the HCBS system in the United States and highlight the multidimensional barriers disrupting the pipeline connecting caregivers to HCBS. Findings can inform web-based behavioral interventions aiming to enhance family caregivers' knowledge of, access to, and utilization of formal services in community settings.
Key findings
- Three overarching concepts were identified: "Pathways to Preparedness'", 'Multi-Level Barriers', and 'Bridging the Gap.' Findings reflected caregivers" need for support in 4 core areas: (a) dementia-specific education/training; (b) competent mental health support; (c) financial/legal navigation, and (4) emergency readiness.
- Results revealed cross-dimensional barriers across individual-, provider-, and systemic-contexts impeding HCBS access and utilization.
- Personalized caregiving navigation and technology were deemed potential solutions to facilitate clearer clinical pathways between unmet needs and relevant services.
- DISCUSSION AND Results underscore the complexity of the HCBS system in the United States and highlight the multidimensional barriers disrupting the pipeline connecting caregivers to HCBS.
- Findings can inform web-based behavioral interventions aiming to enhance family caregivers' knowledge of, access to, and utilization of formal services in community settings.
Why it matters
This qualitative study identified caregiver needs in dementia-specific education, mental health support, financial and legal navigation, and emergency readiness, along with barriers to accessing home and community-based services. It does not test a treatment or cure, but the authors say findings can inform web-based interventions to improve caregivers' knowledge of and access to formal services.
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Study details
- Participants13
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Gerontologist) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | The Gerontologist: journal h-index 238 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 13 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Rachel F. Bloom: h-index 8 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | University of Washington: institution h-index 3,540 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39981669) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Falzarano, F. B., Greenfield, A., Osso, F., Bumbalova, K., & Bloom, R. F. (2025). “Diagnose & Adios”: Multi-Perspective Insights on Formal Service Use in Dementia Family Caregivers. The Gerontologist. https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf081
Vancouver
Falzarano FB, Greenfield A, Osso F, Bumbalova K, Bloom RF. “Diagnose & Adios”: Multi-Perspective Insights on Formal Service Use in Dementia Family Caregivers. The Gerontologist. 2025. doi:10.1093/geront/gnaf081. PMID: 39981669.
BibTeX
@article{falzarano2025-39981669,
author = {Falzarano, Francesca B. and Greenfield, Annabelle and Osso, Francesco and Bumbalova, Katerina and Bloom, Rachel F.},
title = {{“Diagnose \& Adios”: Multi-Perspective Insights on Formal Service Use in Dementia Family Caregivers}},
journal = {The Gerontologist},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/geront/gnaf081},
pmid = {39981669},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/geront/gnaf081}
}
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