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Leaving no one behind: findings from stakeholder discussions in Maryland on supporting persons living alone with dementia
Alfred Boakye, Diane P. Martin, Laura Girling, Kate Gordon, Michael Splaine. Planning Practice and Research, 2025-10-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Individuals living alone with dementia are rising rapidly, yet this group remains largely unrecognized in dementia care planning. This study aimed to explore existing and prospective programming for older adults living alone with dementia across five county-level Dementia Friendly America (DFA) initiatives in Maryland. Interviews conducted with five county DFA leads reflect three broad themes: (1) county initiatives, (2) barriers to engaging persons with dementia who reside alone, and (3) next steps/way forward. Findings inform future research, policy, and practice implications. Greater intentionality, funding, and inclusive planning are needed to ensure this growing, vulnerable population is not left behind.
Key findings
- Individuals living alone with dementia are rising rapidly, yet this group remains largely unrecognized in dementia care planning.
- This study aimed to explore existing and prospective programming for older adults living alone with dementia across five county-level Dementia Friendly America (DFA) initiatives in Maryland.
- Interviews conducted with five county DFA leads reflect three broad themes: (1) county initiatives, (2) barriers to engaging persons with dementia who reside alone, and (3) next steps/way forward.
- Findings inform future research, policy, and practice implications.
- Greater intentionality, funding, and inclusive planning are needed to ensure this growing, vulnerable population is not left behind.
Why it matters
This study interviewed county Dementia Friendly America leads in Maryland about programming for older adults living alone with dementia. It is about community planning and support, not about treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 26/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Planning Practice and Research) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Planning Practice and Research: journal h-index 69 (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 | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Michael Splaine: h-index 9 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Maryland, College Park: institution h-index 1,338 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 1 / 2 | Not in PubMed, but has a DOI |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 26 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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
Boakye, A., Martin, D. P., Girling, L., Gordon, K., & Splaine, M. (2025). Leaving no one behind: findings from stakeholder discussions in Maryland on supporting persons living alone with dementia. Planning Practice and Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2025.2563866
Vancouver
Boakye A, Martin DP, Girling L, Gordon K, Splaine M. Leaving no one behind: findings from stakeholder discussions in Maryland on supporting persons living alone with dementia. Planning Practice and Research. 2025. doi:10.1080/02697459.2025.2563866.
BibTeX
@article{boakye2025-24521317,
author = {Boakye, Alfred and Martin, Diane P. and Girling, Laura and Gordon, Kate and Splaine, Michael},
title = {{Leaving no one behind: findings from stakeholder discussions in Maryland on supporting persons living alone with dementia}},
journal = {Planning Practice and Research},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1080/02697459.2025.2563866},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1080/02697459.2025.2563866}
}
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