SPECIAL SESSION: Developing and Testing a Technologically-Based Caregiver Skill Building Intervention for Dementia Family Caregivers: From Implementation to Dissemination

Description/Overview: Family caregiving is a growing public health concern and caregivers of persons with Alzheimer's disease and other dementias need appropriate, timely, and ongoing training to successfully meet their caregiving responsibilities. Well-designed interventions can significantly reduce risks to caregivers' mental health and improve care recipient outcomes. However, few interventions are successfully translated into everyday practice. Most successful interventions rely on in-person, professionally led groups or individually-focused delivery methods, which make them costly and inaccessible to the majority of family caregivers. This multi-phased NIH-funded Caregiver Skill Building Intervention (CSBI) was theoretically guided by social cognitive theory. The initial randomized clinical trial developed, refined and tested the CSBI using a group intervention approach. Quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze outcomes (N=295). The intervention was successful in decreasing caregiver depressive symptoms and care recipient behavioral symptoms of dementia. A major limitation of this group intervention was its inaccessibility to family caregivers and professionals. A second study, involved an NIH Small Buisiness Technology Transfer (STTR) collaborative project between Rush College of Nursing and a small business. During this collaboration a clinically oriented research and experiential approach was used to adapt the CSBI to a mobile format designed for family caregivers who care for their family member who has early to middle-stage dementia, and professional and para professionals who care for persons with dementia in community-based settings. The adapted CSBI consists of six on-demand interactive multimedia modules that make up an integrated web-based product that teaches family caregivers and professionals who lack healthcare knowledge and skills regarding caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease or a related dementia, how to increase their care management skills, and decrease their own stress and burden with this care. The six modules in this intervention focus on Understanding Dementia, Implementing Person-Centered Care, Responding to Behavioral Symptoms of Dementia, Assisting with Personal Activities of Daily Living, Dealing with Your Own Stress and Finding and Using Help. Modules also refer viewers to additional caregiving website materials, attachments and the Alzheimer's Association 24/7 Caregiver Center Helpline.