Search results for ‘Subject term:"alzheimers disease"’ Sort:
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Telephone-delivered psychosocial intervention reduces burden in dementia caregivers
- Authors:
- TREMONT Geoffrey, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 7(4), November 2008, pp.503-520.
- Publisher:
- Sage
The objective of this study was to examine the preliminary efficacy of Family Intervention: Telephone Tracking — Dementia (FITT-D), a multi-component intervention that is delivered in 23 telephone contacts over 12 months. Thirty-three dementia caregivers were randomly assigned to receive either FITT-D ( n = 16) or standard care (n = 17) using urn randomization to balance the groups on dementia severity, caregiver gender and relationship type (spouse versus other). Inclusion criteria included formal dementia diagnosis, caregiving for at least six months, residing with the care recipient, and providing at least four hours of direct supervision per day. Master's-level therapists contacted caregivers by telephone over 12 months. Each contact followed a standardized treatment manual, involving assessment and individualized application of interventions to address mood, family functioning, social support and health. Outcomes included Zarit Burden Interview, Revised Memory and Behavior Problem Checklist, and the Geriatric Depression Scale at baseline and 12 months (end of treatment). Caregivers receiving FITT-D exhibited significantly lower burden scores and less severe reactions to memory and behaviour problems than caregivers in the standard care condition. Findings provide preliminary evidence for the efficacy of FITT-D, a potentially highly accessible, low-cost intervention for dementia caregivers.
The meaning of everyday technology as experienced by people with dementia who live alone
- Author:
- NYGARD Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 7(4), November 2008, pp.481-502.
- Publisher:
- Sage
This study explored how people with dementia who live alone experienced the meaning of their everyday technology, such as telephones and electronic equipment, and the use of it. Eight participants with mild to moderate stage dementia were included. Repeated interviews and observations were undertaken in each participant's home and surroundings. A phenomenological, interpretative method was adopted in the analysis. In summary, the participants experienced their everyday technology to be embedded with both practical and existential meaning, as it could assist them in different ways in daily life as well as support their perception and presentation of themselves. Although important, habit and familiarity did not seem to provide them with enough support to continue using technology, unless the technology was experienced as very significant and incorporated in a bodily experience through continuous and very frequent practice. The abundance of experienced meanings and the significance of the technology in the participants' lives call for further studies in order to better understand the conditions for managing everyday technology in home and society and, when relevant, to facilitate technology use in people with dementia.
EACH: clearing the channels of information for Europe
- Author:
- MEULENBERGS Leen
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Dementia Care, 5(5), September 1997, pp.26-28.
- Publisher:
- Hawker
The European Alzheimer Clearing House (EACH) aims to become an information exchange for good practice in all aspects of dementia care throughout Europe. Describes its current projects and priorities.
Internet resources on aging: research
- Author:
- POST Joyce A.
- Journal article citation:
- Gerontologist, 36(3), June 1996, pp.277-281.
- Publisher:
- Oxford University Press
Provides brief descriptions of a number of sites on the Internet that provide useful information in the area of research into ageing. Looks at Internet resources on ageing in general and sites concentrating specifically on research in Alzheimer's Disease and related disorders.
The potential of information technology to navigate caregiving systems: perspectives from dementia caregivers
- Authors:
- RUGGIANO Nicole, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Gerontological Social Work, 62(4), 2019, pp.432-450.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
Technologies designed to support caregivers of adults with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (AD/RD) have been developing at an increasingly rapid pace. However, little remains known about caregivers’ perspectives on how technologies can and should help them navigate larger service systems they interact with to engage in caregiving. This study involved in-depth interviews and a beta test of an AD/RD caregiver app to learn more about how they currently use technologies and how potential technological features and functions can best meet their needs. Thematic findings suggest a conceptual model for designing AD/RD caregiver technologies. The findings suggest that eHealth and individual technologies may not fully meet the needs of caregivers as they navigate the larger systems within which they provide care. Findings highlight the need to develop technologies for caregivers that are effective, easy to use, and more widely disseminated – especially for caregivers from disadvantaged backgrounds. (Edited publisher abstract)
Friendsourcing peer support for alzheimer’s caregivers using Facebook social media
- Authors:
- WILKERSON David A., et al
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Technology in Human Services, 36(2-3), 2018, pp.105-124.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- Philadelphia, USA
This research piloted an e-health intervention that used social media to friendsource peer support for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) caregivers. Friendsourcing is a variant of crowdsourcing. Crowdsourcing recruits online participants who share a characteristic that makes their volunteerism meaningful when they join to achieve an outcome. This article introduces the authors' friendsourcing intervention research and examines the effects on the psychological well-being of AD caregivers. After a 6-week intervention, caregivers were found to have significantly decreased burden (Z = −2.01, p < .05) and perceived stress (Z = −2.95, p < .01). Emotional and informational support scores were significantly increased (Z = −2.32, p < .05). Qualitative data analysis of the intervention identified positive effects in new caregiving knowledge acquisition and application and reduced stress in the acceptance of the caregiving role. Joining social networks in support groups through friendsourcing was feasible for AD caregivers who were familiar with social media, and can provide another means of guiding the development of their personal support networks. (Edited publisher abstract)
Can smart homes extend people with Alzheimer's disease stay at home?
- Authors:
- GONZALEZ Alberto Brunete, SELMES Micheline, SELMES Jacques
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Enabling Technologies, 11(1), 2017, pp.6-12.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to analyse the needs of people with Alzheimer's disease and their caregivers in terms of information and communications technology (ICT) and home automation, and how to foster the use of smart devices in their homes and also, to determine whether the use of ICT can extend people with Alzheimer's disease stay at home in the first stages of the illness, while facilitating their caregivers’ tasks. Design/methodology/approach: Groups of caregivers, ICT researchers and Alzheimer's disease experts were gathered to discuss the utility of several solutions. Sessions were grouped into four topics: safety, leisure, activities of daily living and friendly atmosphere. In total, 23 ICT-based solutions to improve life at home of people with Alzheimer's disease were analysed and grouped under "no interest", "some interest" and "very interesting". Caregivers rated these solutions and suggested improvements to them. Findings: In total, 18 out of 23 proposals were considered "very interesting", meaning that caregivers considered that they could truly improve the lives of people with Alzheimer's disease. Caregivers also suggested how to progressively introduce these technical solutions into their homes. Originality/value: ICT and home automation advances could be very useful if used conveniently. Caregivers consider that smart homes can help people with Alzheimer's disease in the security, leisure and daily tasks fields, increasing the time they can live alone in their own homes. (Publisher abstract)
The results from a two-year case study of an information and communication technology support system for family caregivers
- Author:
- LUNDBERG Stephan
- Journal article citation:
- Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology, 9(4), 2014, pp.353-358.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
- Place of publication:
- London
Purpose: The aim was to better understand how information and communication technology (ICT) can provide support to elderly family caregivers caring for significant others suffering from dementia or stroke. Method: Ten households equipped with an ICT system, with a family caregiver and a spouse diagnosed with dementia or stroke, were followed and observed in a two-year case study. The family caregivers had regular meetings in groups organised by the municipal care of the elderly. Data from observations, semi-structured interviews, user data from the ICT system and data about the support provided by the municipality has been used to validate the findings. Results: The family caregivers socialised with users in the group as long as the users were stayed in the group. Meetings in the group were an important opportunity for exchanging experiences and to easing one”s mind. The ICT system did not reduce the municipality”s level of services to the participating families. The information built into the system has to be constantly updated to be of interest. Conclusions: An ICT support must be provided in a context of personal meetings and with a formal caregiver backing. This will empower informal or family caregivers. Such support must give the user the possibility to communicate and get access to the Internet. Implications for Rehabilitation: 1) Benefits were obtained when informal caregivers met with a group of people with whom they share the same kind of experiences and were supported by a formal caregiver; 2) Informal caregivers need more attention and recognition; 3) ICT systems can help but must be current and maintain the users interest. (Publisher abstract)
Learning and using technology in intertwined processes: a study of people with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease
- Authors:
- ROSENBERG Lena, NYGARD Louise
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 13(5), 2014, pp.662-677.
- Publisher:
- Sage
People with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease are likely to be challenged by the multitude of everyday technology in today’s society. The aim of this study was to explore how they try to prohibit, avoid or solve problems in everyday technology use, maintain skills, and learn to use new technology. To explore how the participants applied and reasoned about using everyday technology in real-life situations interviews were conducted while the participants used their own technology in their homes. Interviews were conducted with 20 participants with mild cognitive impairment (n = 10) or Alzheimer’s disease (n = 10). The analyses were inspired from grounded theory and resulted in one core category and three sub-categories that represent sub-processes in the core. The core finding presents a continuous, intertwined process of learning and using everyday technology, highlighting how the context was interwoven in the processes. The participants used a rich variety of management strategies when approaching technology, including communication with the everyday technologies on different levels. The findings underscore that it is important to support continued use of everyday technology as long as it is valued and relevant to the person with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer’s disease. The intertwined process of learning and using everyday technology suggests how support could target different sub-processes. (Publisher abstract)
Using a screening tool to evaluate potential use of e-health services for older people with and without cognitive impairment
- Authors:
- MALINOWSKY Camilla, NYGARD Louise, KOTTORP Anders
- Journal article citation:
- Aging and Mental Health, 18(3), 2014, pp.340-345.
- Publisher:
- Taylor and Francis
Objectives: E-health services are increasingly offered to provide clients with information and a link to healthcare services. The aim of this study is to investigate the perceived access to and the potential to use technologies important for e-health services among older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls. Method: The perceived access to and perception of difficulty in the use of everyday technology (such as cell phones, coffee machines, computers) was investigated in a sample of older adults (n = 118) comprising three subsamples: adults with MCI (n = 37), with mild AD (n = 37), and controls (n = 44) using the Everyday Technology Use Questionnaire (ETUQ). The use of seven technologies important for e-health services was specifically examined for each subsample and compared between the subsamples. Results: The findings demonstrated that the older adults in all subsamples perceive access to e-health technologies and potentially would use them competently in several e-health services. However, among persons with AD a lower proportion of perceived access to the technology was described, as well as for persons with MCI. Conclusion: To make the benefits of e-health services available and used by all clients, it is important to consider access to the technology required in e-health services and also to support the clients’ capabilities to understand and use the technologies. Also, the potential use of the ETUQ to explore the perceived access to and competence in using e-health technologies is a vital issue in the use of e-health services (Publisher abstract)