Factors Influencing Barriers and Facilitators to In-home Video Telehealth for Dementia Management

ABSTRACT

Objectives

Quality dementia care, which recognizes caregivers as vital care partners, is a scarce resource. Innovative solutions like video telehealth may increase the reach of extant clinicians; however, little is known about perceived barriers and facilitators to in-home video telehealth for dementia management from the perspectives of caregivers.

Methods

Twenty-four caregivers of community-dwelling Veterans with dementia participated in semi-structured interviews. Questions gathered perceived facilitators and barriers to in-home video telehealth for dementia management through experience with related technology. Transcripts were analyzed using directed content analysis which was guided by factors previously identified as influencing older adults’ adoption of technology.

Results

Caregiver experience with related technology was mostly facilitative to video telehealth, which was thought best suited for follow-up care. Increased access and decreased patient-caregiver stress were potential benefits. Barriers included perceived limitations of video and the belief that persons with dementia would have limited ability to manage technological aspects and to engage in video telehealth on their own.

Conclusions

This study improves our understanding of the factors that caregivers perceive as barriers and facilitators to in-home video telehealth for dementia management.

Clinical Implications

Strategies to optimize video telehealth include capitalizing on caregivers’ social network and providing targeted training.

KEYWORDS:

• Dementia
• caregivers
• telehealth
• delivery of health care

Acknowledgments

This material is the result of work supported with resources and the use of facilities at Department of Veterans Affairs. The contents do not represent the views of VA or the United States Government.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).