Evaluating the efficacy of TeleFAMILIES: a telehealth intervention for caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia

Abstract

Objectives

Examine the efficacy of a telehealth-administered intervention for caregivers of persons with dementia.

Method

Two hundred sixteen caregivers engaged in the FAMILIES intervention over six months, either virtually (n = 59) or in-person (n = 157). The telehealth protocol (TeleFAMILIES) was conducted online. Caregivers engaged in six sessions, including individual and family/group counseling, ad hoc counseling, and had access to support groups. Sessions included person-centered assessments of caregivers’ physical, emotional, social needs, and current support networks. Primary outcome variables were change in total score between baseline and completion on the Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised (CESD-R), and the Revised Memory and Behavior Problems Checklist (RMBPC).

Results

TeleFAMILIES caregivers reported significant reductions in ZBI (p = .002) and CESD-R scores (p < .001). RMBPC reaction scores significantly improved (p = .02) and improved more than in-person caregivers’ scores (F (3, 119) = 2.71, p = .048, partial eta² = .06). For those classified as having a higher risk of depression at baseline, a significantly larger portion TeleFAMILIES caregivers converted to a classification of lower depression risk at completion (p = .02).

Conclusion

Compared to the in-person group, TeleFAMILIES caregivers experienced the same, if not greater improvements in perceived burden, depressive symptomatology, and their ability to manage their reactions to behavioral symptoms of dementia. The strengths of TeleFAMILIES are the convenience of telehealth services and its mitigation of barriers to care.

Keywords:

• Telehealth
• caregiver intervention
• dementia

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

Funding for the TeleFAMILIES initiative was provided by the [Administration on Aging (AoA), Administration for Community Living (ACL), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS)] under grant [90ALGG0014-01-01], and the [Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitation Services] under grant [90AL0020-01-00; 15-136 Project Code 45118; MOA 16-123].