Decision-making involvement of individuals with dementia

decision-making involvement may help to enhance the quality of life of older adults; however, individuals with dementia are often excluded from decision making that is related to their daily functioning. In this study we use a modified version of the Stress Process Model to consider the stressprocessof individualswith chronic illness, and in particular to explore the predictors of decision-making involvement among individuals with dementia (n = 215). Design and Methods: We collected data from individual with dementia (IWD)– family caregiver dyads. Relying primarily on data from the IWD, we used hierarchical multiple regression analysis to determine the predictors of the IWD’s decision-making involvement. Results: Results indi-cate that individuals who report more decision-making involvement are younger, female, have more educa-tion, have a nonspousal caregiver, have fewer months since their diagnosis, exhibit fewer problems with activities of daily livingand fewer depressive symptoms (based on caregiver report), and place more impor-tance on autonomy/self-identity. Implications: In our discussion we examine the importance of autonomy and impairment levels for understanding the decision-making involvement of persons with dementia