"I want everything to be discussed honestly" – home-dwelling people living with dementia negotiating their psychosocial needs

Dementia presents significant challenges for individuals’ well-being, mak­ing it crucial for others to understand their psychosocial needs to provide holistic care and support. This qualitative study examined the psychoso­cial needs of home-dwelling people living with dementia, as described by people with dementia and their partners. The data consist of 20 in-depth interviews with 33 home-dwelling participants, including 14 people with dementia and 19 partners aged 62–88. A data-driven thematic analysis was conducted, followed by a theory-driven analysis in three phases. As a result, seven main themes of psychosocial needs were identified. These themes complemented existing models and highlighted the intertwined nature of psychosocial needs. People with dementia are not only aware of their psychosocial needs, but also assertively express them and advocate for their acknowledgement. These findings highlight the importance of addressing psychosocial needs to improve care and enhance the quality of life for people living with dementia.