The ResidentialCare Transition Module: a single-blinded randomized controlled evaluation of a telehealth support intervention for family caregivers of persons with dementia living in residential long-term care

BMC Geriatrics

Carol J. Whitlatch¹  David L. Roth²  Mary S. Mittelman³  Colleen M. Peterson⁴  Hayley R. McCarron⁴  Rachel Zmora⁴  Tamara L. Statz⁵  Robyn W. Birkeland⁵  Katie W. Louwagie⁵  Joseph E. Gaugler⁵  Ann Emery⁵  Kenneth Hepburn⁶ 

[1] Benjamin Rose Institute on Aging;Center on Aging and Health, Johns Hopkins University;Department of Psychiatry, NYU School of Medicine;Division of Epidemiology and Community Health, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota;Division of Health Policy and Management, School 8of Public Health, University of Minnesota;Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing, Emory University Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, Emory University;

关键词: Institutionalization;    Nursing home admission;    Nursing home placement;    Nursing home entry;    Caregiving;    Informal care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12877-020-01542-7

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Abstract Background Families do not fully disengage from care responsibilities following relatives’ admissions to residential long-term (RLTC) care settings such as nursing homes. Caregiver stress, depression, or other key outcomes remain stable or sometimes increase following a relative’s RLTC entry. Some interventions have attempted to increase family involvement after institutionalization, but few rigorous studies have demonstrated whether these interventions are effective in helping families navigate the potential emotional and psychological upheaval presented by relatives’ transitions to RLTC environments. The Residential Care Transition Module (RCTM) provides six formal sessions of consultation (one-to-one and family sessions) over a 4-month period to family caregivers who have admitted a relative to a RLTC setting. Methods In this embedded mixed methods randomized controlled evaluation, family members who have admitted a cognitively impaired relative to a RLTC setting are randomly assigned to the RCTM (n = 120) or a usual care control condition (n = 120). Primary outcomes include reductions in family members’ primary subjective stress and negative mental health outcomes; secondary role strains; and residential care stress. The mixed methods design will allow for an analysis of intervention action mechanisms by “embedding” qualitative components (up to 30 semi-structured interviews) at the conclusion of the 12-month evaluation. Discussion This evaluation will fill an important clinical and research gap by evaluating a psychosocial intervention designed for families following RLTC admission that determines whether and how the RCTM can help families better navigate the emotional and psychological challenges of residential care transitions. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov ( NCT02915939 , prospectively registered).

【 授权许可】

Unknown