Background/Objectives
Available services and intervention programs for dementia caregivers are often underutilized
because of issues such as cost, logistics, lack of knowledge about available services,
or insufficient support from others. Information technologies offer the potential
of removing these barriers and facilitating the ability of caregivers to access needed
support. This project evaluated the feasibility and efficacy of technology-based psychosocial
intervention among minority family caregivers of dementia patients.
Design
A feasibility and efficacy trial.
Setting
Participants' homes in the Greater Miami Community.
Participants
One hundred ten (56 Hispanic American and 54 African American) caregivers of patients
with dementia.
Intervention
A technology-based multi-component psychosocial intervention was delivered in-home
and via videophone technology over 5 months. The intervention was modeled after the
REACH II intervention and targeted known areas of caregiver risk.
Measurement
Standardized measures of depression, caregiver burden, social support, and the caregivers'
perception of the caregiver's experience were administered at baseline and 5 months
post-randomization.
Results
Overall, caregivers who received the intervention reported a decrease in burden, an
increase in perceived social support and positive perceptions of the caregiving experience.
No effect was observed for depression. Most participants indicated that the intervention
improved their caregiving skills and found the technology to be easy to use.
Conclusions
A technology-based format was feasible for delivering a multi-component intervention
to minority family dementia caregivers. The intervention improved caregiver outcomes
for both Hispanic and African American caregivers. The results suggest that technology
may help eliminate disparities in access to caregiver intervention programs.
Key Words
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 08, 2013
Accepted:
February 26,
2013
Received in revised form:
February 20,
2013
Received:
December 18,
2012
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
