Need-based intervention delivery for family caregivers of older adults with dementia

Abstract

Research on family caregivers of persons with dementia abounds with studies of psychoeducational and cognitive-behavioral interventions to reduce stress and promote mental health. Yet, the caregiver's needs for such interventions are rarely documented. This study of 87 dementia caregivers examined their needs for dementia education and Resourcefulness Training© using baseline cut scores on validated measures of dementia knowledge and resourcefulness skills. While 66 % showed high need for dementia education, 61 % showed moderate to high need for Resourcefulness Training© and 55 % showed moderate to high need for both, prompting future research to explore advantages of delivering both interventions to dementia caregivers.