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Multidisciplinary Home-Based Palliative Care for People Living with Dementia: Preliminary Findings on Palliative Care Concerns and Caregiver Burden
Suma Joseph, Priya Treesa Thomas, Gargi S. Kumar, M Arun, Reshma P. Mohandas, Kailash Ganga, M. S. Keerthipriya, P. Binesha et al.. Journal of Applied Gerontology, 2025-05-22
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
We describe the complex care needs faced by families in dementia care and specialized multidisciplinary palliative care delivered through home visits as a feasible way to support advancing stages of dementia. Participants with confirmed diagnosis of dementia were enrolled in home-based care as part of the neuropalliative and supportive care services. Disease severity, functionality, palliative care concerns, and caregiver burden were assessed at intake and three months at their homes. Forty-seven participants were enrolled. The mean age of participants was 65.48 (13.12); with more female patients ( n = 27; 57%). 34/47 (72%) completed the reassessment. Moderate levels of caregiver burden were reported at 31.57 (17.9), range 18–80 at baseline, which showed a slight increase at three months follow-up, though palliative care concerns significantly reduced (Cohen’s d = 1.16). Multidisciplinary home-based palliative care is feasible and can reduce the palliative care concerns in dementia. Further longitudinal studies with robust methodology are needed to explore the specific outcomes.
Key findings
- Moderate levels of caregiver burden were reported at 31.57 (17.9), range 18–80 at baseline, which showed a slight increase at three months follow-up, though palliative care concerns significantly reduced (Cohen’s d = 1.16).
Why it matters
This preliminary longitudinal study of 47 participants found that multidisciplinary home-based palliative care significantly reduced palliative care concerns, while caregiver burden showed a slight increase at three months. The authors call for further longitudinal studies with robust methodology.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants27
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Applied Gerontology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Applied Gerontology: journal h-index 92 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” 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 | 27 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.7× 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 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Suvarna Alladi: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences: institution h-index 225 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40401772) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1177/07334648251344358
- PubMed: 40401772
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Applied Gerontology →
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Joseph, S., Thomas, P. T., Kumar, G. S., Arun, M., Mohandas, R. P., Ganga, K., et al. (2025). Multidisciplinary Home-Based Palliative Care for People Living with Dementia: Preliminary Findings on Palliative Care Concerns and Caregiver Burden. Journal of Applied Gerontology. https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251344358
Vancouver
Joseph S, Thomas PT, Kumar GS, Arun M, Mohandas RP, Ganga K, et al. Multidisciplinary Home-Based Palliative Care for People Living with Dementia: Preliminary Findings on Palliative Care Concerns and Caregiver Burden. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 2025. doi:10.1177/07334648251344358. PMID: 40401772.
BibTeX
@article{joseph2025-40401772,
author = {Joseph, Suma and Thomas, Priya Treesa and Kumar, Gargi S. and Arun, M and Mohandas, Reshma P. and Ganga, Kailash and Keerthipriya, M. S. and Binesha, P. and others},
title = {{Multidisciplinary Home-Based Palliative Care for People Living with Dementia: Preliminary Findings on Palliative Care Concerns and Caregiver Burden}},
journal = {Journal of Applied Gerontology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1177/07334648251344358},
pmid = {40401772},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/07334648251344358}
}
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