Early-Stage Partner in Care Living Alone Plus

Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease (QoL-AD)

This scale assesses 13 global items of quality of life covering areas like physical health, mood, family, and finances, with the outcomes poor, fair, good, and excellent. It can be used across different dementia stages and is designed for individuals with dementia and their caregivers. The scale consists of 13 questions. Each question has four possible responses - poor, fair, good, and excellent, each equating to 1-4 points respectively. The total score ranges from 13 to 52, with higher scores indicating a higher quality of life.

UCLA 3-item Loneliness Scale

This scale comprises three questions that measure three dimensions of loneliness: relational connectedness, social connectedness, and self-perceived isolation. The scale is rated with hardly ever, some of the time, and often, with scores ranging from 1 to 3, respectively. The total score ranges from 3 to 9, with scores ranging from 6 to 9 indicating loneliness.

Dementia Quality of Life (DQoL)- Positive and Negative Feelings Affect Scale

The DQoL consists of 30 items and five scales: positive affect (six items), negative affect (11 items), feelings of belonging (three items), self-esteem (four items), sense of aesthetics (five items) and one global item. QDOL is a Likert scale with the outcomes never, seldom, sometimes, often, and very often, ranging from 1 to 5, respectively. Higher scores indicate better QoL, except on the negative affect scale. The study focuses on assessing positive (e.g., content) and negative (e.g., afraid) feelings.

Center of Epidemiologic Studies-Depression short form (CES-D)

Shortened version of the CESD-20. It measures depressive symptoms and assesses feelings such as feeling bothered by things, having trouble concentrating, etc. It is scored by summing the responses to its 10 items, each rated on a 4-point scale with scores rarely or none of the time, some of the time, occasionally, and most of the time, ranging from 0 to 3, respectively. Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating greater depressive symptoms.

Care Preparedness Scale

Assessment of the level of preparedness associated with future care using the Likert scale: not at all prepared, not too well prepared, somewhat well prepared, pretty well prepared, and very well prepared. Scores range from 1 to 5. Higher scores indicate higher levels of care preparedness.

Leisure Satisfaction Scale

Assessment of the diligence in one's own health and leisure activity satisfaction using the ratings not at all, a little, and a lot. Scores range from 1 to 3, respectively, with higher scores indicating higher levels of leisure satisfaction and diligence in one's own health.

Knowledge of Dementia (modified)

Assessment of the knowledge and understanding of dementia, causes, course, and treatment. Answers are true or false.

Care preferences/circle diagrams

Peferences for who (informal or paid help) assist with care. Choices are: care partner, family/friends and Paid helper.

Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)

Gives a brief assessment of mental state status. It assesses different aspects of cognitive function, including orientation, memory, language, and visuospatial skills through different activities. The test is scored out of 30, with lower scores indicating more significant cognitive impairment.

Socio-demographics

Socio-demographics characteristics questions (e.g., level of education, marital status).

Perception of benefits and acceptability

Perceived study benefits questions (e.g., How much do you think you benefitted from participating in EPIC Living Alone Plus?)