Patterns of Social Participation Among Community-Dwelling People With Dementia in Japan: Individual and Neighborhood Correlates

Background Social participation supports quality of life among people with dementia, yet participation patterns and their correlates remain poorly understood. Objective To identify patterns of leisure activities, community group participation, and social contact and their individual and neighborhood correlates. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study–Home Care linked with Long-Term Care Insurance records ( n = 1,604; aged ≥65 years with dementia). Fourteen participation-related indicators were analyzed using latent class analysis. Correlates were examined using bias-adjusted multinomial logistic regression adjusted for sex and age. Results Three classes were identified: Broad (10.1%), Relationship-based (21.9%), and Limited (68.0%). Compared with Limited participation, both other classes were associated with younger age, living alone, greater functional independence, lower dementia severity, and more favorable perceived walkability and availability of parks or walking paths. Conclusions Findings suggest that participation support should consider individual characteristics and perceived characteristics of the neighborhood physical environment.