TANDEM: Communication training for informal caregivers of people with dementia

Abstract

Objectives: Dementia increasingly diminishes the ability to communicate. We aimed to develop and evaluate a psychosocial intervention program that focuses on communication in dementia care. This was intended to enhance the quality of life (QoL) of people with dementia and to reduce the burden on their informal caregivers.

Method: A training program for informal caregivers of people with dementia was developed. The training combines the expertise of geriatric psychiatry, geriatric care, and educational psychology. Caregivers acquire and deepen competencies required to improve communication in dementia care. The training was evaluated with a pre–post-control group design and time-series analyses. Twenty-four informal caregivers participated in the study.

Results: The results of the study provide evidence that TANDEM training increases caregivers’ use of strategies that are relevant for communication in dementia care and the care receivers’ QoL.

Conclusion: The results of research in this program show the relevance of including caregivers in interventions and the importance of communication for the QoL of people with dementia.

Keywords:

• dementia
• home care
• communication
• caregiver intervention
• evaluation study

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the BHF Bank Foundation and the German Alzheimer Foundation for their support. In addition, we thank all participating people with dementia, and their caregivers.