BackgroundThe experiences of people with cognitive impairment in the real world have not been fully explored because of methodological difficulties. This study re-accessed people with cognitive impairment identified in a previous epidemiological survey to explore their current situation and the risk factors associated with all-cause discontinuation of community living.MethodsIn 2016, a three-step survey was conducted of 7,614 older residents. In the last step of the survey, a research team visited the homes of 198 participants with a Mini-Mental State Examination score <24. In 2019, we re-accessed these people. We ran a community space in the study area for 3 years to build partnerships with community residents and community workers, and were able to re-access the participants using multiple methods.ResultsWe found that 126 (63.6%) participants had continued living in the same community, but 58 (29.3%) had discontinued community living. Of these, 18 (9.1%) had died, 18 (9.1%) were institutionalized, 9 (4.5%) were hospitalized, and 13 (6.6%) had moved out of the community. A multiple logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors associated with discontinuation of community living: being certified under long-term insurance, needing housing support, and needing rights protection.ConclusionsThree years after the baseline survey, 29.3% people with cognitive impairment had discontinued community living. Despite having dementia or living alone, older people could continue to live in the community if their needs for housing support and rights protection were met. Both social interventions and medical interventions are important to build age-friendly communities.Trial registrationUMIN, UMIN000038189,　Registered 3 October 2019, https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr_e/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000043521