Translating the REACH caregiver intervention for use by area agency on aging personnel

Citation Burgio, L.D., Collins, I.B., Schmid, B., Wharton, T., McCallum, D., & DeCoster, J. (2009). Translating the REACH caregiver intervention for use by area agency on aging personnel. The Gerontologist, 49(1), 103-116

Design Experiment

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop an empirically-tested translation of the evidence-based Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health (REACH) II intervention, for use in Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs).

Hypothesis The primary aim of this article was to describe the REACH OUT Program (Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregiver Health: Offering Useful Treatments) whose purpose was to modify the treatment package used in the REACH II clinical trial for feasible and effective use in Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs). A secondary aim was to investigate possible moderators of outcome, such as specifi c AAA site and race.

Participants The participants of this study were n=13 AAA case managers and n=236 dyads of persons with dementia and their caregivers.

Outcome / Dependent Variables Outcome variables: caregiver subjective burden, social support,caregiver frustration and depression, caregiver health, care recipient behavior problems and mood, and 23 care recipient risk behaviors.

Procedure Phase I: Using elements of Community-based Participatory Research (CBPR), State of Alabama and the University of Alabama partnered to modify REACH II clinical trial for feasible use in the community. Phase II: Traditional experimental procedures were used to test the effectiveness of the translated intervention.

Outcomes Statistically significant caregiver outcomes: improvements in their overall health and depression, reduction in feelings of burden from caregiving. Caregivers reported fewer feelings of anger towards the care receiver. Care recipient outcomes: Care recipients were less likely to be left unsupervised. The care receiver was less likely to wander and have access to dangerous objects. There was improvement in care recipients' problem behaviors.

Author Burgio, L.D., Collins, I.B., Schmid, B., Wharton, T., McCallum, D., & DeCoster, J.