ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The current study translated the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health: Offering Useful Treatments (REACH OUT), a skills-building stress and burden intervention, for the primary care setting and pilot the resulting intervention. METHODS: The 16-week intervention consisted of a combination of clinic-based group and one-on-one sessions offered within a medical home, geriatrics clinic. A quasi-experimental pre- and post-test study design without a control group tested the resulting intervention. Semi-structured qualitative exit interviews evaluated program satisfaction. RESULTS: Twenty-five caregivers participated in one of four intervention groups; 21 caregivers completed the intervention (attended at least five of six group sessions). Caregiver burden on standardized assessments was significantly reduced between pre- and post-intervention, specifically for physical/emotional strain and caregiving uncertainty. Significant reductions were found in the frequency of reported disruptive behaviors; increased caregiver confidence in handling behavior problem frequency, depressive symptoms, disruptive behaviors, and memory-related problems; and decreased bother with respect to behavioral problem frequency and care recipient depression. Program satisfaction was high. CONCLUSION: This work suggests that the REACH OUT program can be successfully modified for use within a primary-care medical home setting.
Subject(s)
Alzheimer Disease , Caregivers , Alzheimer Disease/therapy , Humans , Pilot Projects , Primary Health Care , Program EvaluationABSTRACT
The literature that supports and describes faith community nursing (FCN) practice is extensive, but limited in describing the value and meaning of FCN to the community. A qualitative investigation of one FCN program led to emergence of five themes that illustrate the perceived importance of FCN to this community: tasks and services offered, nursing expertise, spirituality, familiarity, and community support. This exploration reveals the deeper value and meaning of FCN to the communities these nurses support.
