Grant: Summer Program in Aging

Apathy is a common and persistent problem among older people in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). Many factors can contribute to apathy. These include, but not limited to age, sex, genetics, ethnicity, depression, dementia, and the physical environment. However, there has been no study carried out in Canada looking at the extent to which apathy is prevalent in LTCFs and its associated risk factors. A person with apathy often experiences loss of motivation or interest in self-directed activities and emotions. If apathy is not detected early or left untreated, it has significant negative effects on those affected, their care partners, and the health care system, including poor quality of life, rapid loss of memory, increased reliance on caregivers resulting in caregiver burden, institutionalization, and increased health care costs. Research has found that those who have apathy are more than two times likely to die early than those without apathy. Despite these negative impacts, evidence suggests that apathy is under-researched and the people affected are under-treated. The purpose of this proposed research will be to examine the prevalence of apathy and its predictors among newly admitted residents with and without dementia in the Canadian LTCFs using the InterRAI-MDS 2.0 data set over a period of five years (2014-2019). The study will also look at the relationship between apathy and social engagement among this population. It is hoped that the implementation of this project will create awareness about apathy in LTCFs and provide guidance on preventive measures for apathy in LTCFs. This project aligns with CIHR SPA 2021 focus and theme because it aims to use existing data collected over time to determine the various factors that contribute to apathy among newly admitted older adults in LTCFs and thus, provide evidence-based information on the preventive measures for apathy in this population.