[Dementia and Parkinson's Disease in the rural population of western Salamanca: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and family support needs].

OBJECTIVE

To estimate the prevalence of dementia and Parkinson's disease/parkinsonism in the rural border area of the province of Salamanca, describe the sociodemographic characteristics of those affected, and explore the support needs of their caregiving families.

DESIGN

Descriptive cross-sectional prevalence study.

LOCATION: Ten rural Basic Health Zones in the border region of the province of Salamanca.

PARTICIPANTS

People diagnosed with some type of dementia and Parkinson's disease/parkinsonism, and their family caregivers.

INTERVENTION: Recording of diagnoses from the Primary Care Electronic Health Record and administration of a questionnaire to family caregivers on support needs and access to services.

MAIN MEASURES: List of services and degree of adequacy of the amount of support received (none-some, but not enough-enough).

RESULTS

A total of 579 cases of dementia (prevalence: 1.47%) and 372 cases of Parkinson's disease/parkinsonism (prevalence: 0.95%) were identified, with mean ages of 84.4 and 80.6 years, respectively. Women had a higher prevalence of dementia, while men had a higher prevalence of Parkinson's disease. Twenty-six-point 4percent of people with dementia and 21% of those with Parkinson's disease were institutionalized. The Basic Health Areas with the highest prevalence were La Alberca (dementia) and Aldeadávila (Parkinson's disease). Families expressed a need for information, financial support, respite, and emotional support, with insufficient coverage of available services.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of dementia and Parkinson's disease/parkinsonism in the rural population studied is significant and consistent with demographic patterns of aging. Caregivers have important unmet support needs, highlighting the need for specific social and health strategies to improve care for people with neurodegenerative diseases and their families in aging rural environments.