Case Management Services and Psychosocial Well-Being in Dementia Care: A Mixed-Methods Study of Patients and Families in Meru County, Kenya
Keywords:
dementia ,, Case Management, psychosocial, wellbeing.Abstract
This study set out to examine the influence of case management services on the psychosocial wellbeing of dementia patients and their families in Meru County, Kenya. To assess the relationship between case management services and psychosocial wellbeing of dementia patients and their families, the study utilized a mixed-methods descriptive correlational research design. However, the target population of the study was dementia patients, primary caregivers and geriatric healthcare providers in Meru County, in which a sample of 60 respondents participated. In addition, primary data were collected using structured questionnaires and interview schedules. Cronbach’s alpha coefficients were used to assess the reliability, while the validity of instruments was established through expert reviews. The Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 31 was adopted to analyze quantitative data. The software was also used to test hypotheses through descriptive statistics, simple linear regression, and Pearson correlation tests made. A thematic approach was adopted to analyze qualitative data from the interview schedule that provided deeper understanding of caregivers' and health providers' experiences. The result of the study showed a strong positive statistically significant relationship between case management and psychosocial wellbeing of dementia patients and their families in a score of r = 0.895, p < 0.001. In predicting the significance of how case management services influence psychosocial wellbeing, regression analysis was used with a score of β = 0.850, p < 0.001. This indicated that improvement in individualized care planning coupled with follow-up visits, referral support plus care plan updates was associated with better emotional wellbeing and adaptation to dementia-related challenges. The study hence concludes that effective case management services are an important component of person-centered dementia care. Although gaps remain in continuity, individualized support, and coordinated follow-up, hence, the study recommends strengthening community-based dementia case management through improved referral systems. It also suggests caregiver education, regular professional follow-up, and integrated psychosocial support to enhance the wellbeing of dementia patients and their families in rural Kenya.
References
1. Alzheimer’s Disease International. (2021). World Alzheimer's Report 2021: Journey Through the Diagnosis of Dementia. Alzheimer’s Disease International. [https://www.alzint.org/resource/worldalzheimer-report-2021/](https://www.alzint.org/resource/worldalzheimer-report-2021/)
2. Ayisi-Boateng, N. K., Owusu-Ansah, F. E., & Ocloo, J. E. (2022). Challenges and opportunities in dementia care in sub-Saharan Africa: A review of the evidence. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, Article 873548. [https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.873548](https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.873548)
3. Bonett, D. G., & Wright, T. A. (2023). Cronbach’s alpha reliability: Interval estimation, hypothesis testing, and sample size planning. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 44(3), 381–390. [https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2641](https://doi.org/10.1002/job.2641)
4. Cobb, S. (1976). Social support as a moderator of life stress. Psychosomatic Medicine, 38(5), 300–314. [https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197609000-00003](https://doi.org/10.1097/00006842-197609000-00003)
5. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2018). Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications.
6. Guerchet, M., Prince, M., Prina, M., et al. (2017). The Global Impact of Dementia: An Analysis of Prevalence, Incidence, Cost, and Trends. Alzheimer’s Disease International.
7. Hair, J. F., Hult, G. T. M., Ringle, C. M., Sarstedt, M., Danks, N. P., & Ray, S. (2022). Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) Using R: A Workbook. Springer.
8. House, J. S. (1981). Work Stress and Social Support. Addison-Wesley.
9. World Health Organization. (n.d.). [WHO publication](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240075350) .
10. World Health Organization. (n.d.). [WHO publication](https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550543) .
11. Johnson, R. B., & Christensen, L. (2020). Educational Research: Quantitative, Qualitative, and Mixed Approaches (7th ed.). SAGE Publications.
12. Kathuri, N. J., & Pals, D. A. (1993). Introduction to Educational Research. Educational Media Center.
13. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume I—Population by County and Sub-County. KNBS.
14. Kenya National Bureau of Statistics. (2019). 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume III—Distribution of Population by Age, Sex, and Administrative Units. KNBS.
15. Kitwood, T. (1997). Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Open University Press.
16. Kitwood, T. (1997). Dementia Reconsidered: The Person Comes First. Open University Press.
17. Lee, K. H., Choi, H., & Kim, J. (2023). Effects of dementia care management interventions on health outcomes among people with dementia and caregivers: A systematic review. BMC Geriatrics, 23, Article 1–15.
18. Livingston, G., Huntley, J., Sommerlad, A., Ames, D., Ballard, C., Banerjee, S., Brayne, C., Burns, A., Cohen-Mansfield, J., Cooper, C., Costafreda, S. G., Dias, A., Fox, N., Gitlin, L. N., Howard, R., Kales, H. C., Kivimäki, M., Larson, E. B., Ogunniyi, A., ... Mukadam, N. (2024). Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet Standing Commission. The Lancet, 404(10452), 572–628. [https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(24)01296-0](https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736%2824%2901296-0)
19. Munyoro, C., Ndetei, D. M., et al. (2024). Dementia prevalence and associated factors among older adults in Kenya: Emerging evidence from community-based studies. International Psychogeriatrics.
20. Saunders, M. N. K., Lewis, P., & Thornhill, A. (2019). Research Methods for Business Students (8th ed.). Pearson.
21. Taber, K. S. (2024). The use of Cronbach’s alpha when developing and reporting research instruments in science education. Research in Science Education.
22. Thyrian, J. R., Hertel, J., Wucherer, D., Eichler, T., Michalowsky, B., Dreier-Wolfgramm, A., ... Hoffmann, W. (2021). Effectiveness and safety of dementia care management in primary care: A randomized controlled trial. The Lancet Healthy Longevity, 2(10), e601–e610.
23. Vandervoort, A., van den Brink, R., et al. (2020). Effects of case management interventions for people with dementia and their caregivers: A systematic review. International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry.
24. World Health Organization. (2019). Risk Reduction of Cognitive Decline and Dementia: WHO Guidelines. World Health Organization.
25. World Health Organization. (2023). Global Status Report on the Public Health Response to Dementia. World Health Organization.
26. Yamane, T. (1967). Statistics: An Introductory Analysis (2nd ed.). Harper & Row.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Author(s)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Articles published in the Journal of Advanced Multidisciplinary Studies (JAMS) are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0), unless otherwise stated. Authors retain copyright of their work and grant JAMS the right of first publication.
