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CARE Plus is a new 5-part educational series designed to support caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). CARE-Plus is a research study funded by the Alzheimer’s Association. Most of the 4.5 million individuals with AD live at home, and are cared for by a family member. The rewards of caring for an individual with AD can be great however the demands faced by caregivers can be extremely high as well. Families are often confronted with coping with changes in a loved one’s behavior and mood, and at times, the caregiver’s own physical and emotional health, and his/her relationships with friends and family may be negatively affected. The BU ADCRP is committed to identifying, through rigorous educational intervention studies, such as CARE-Plus, ways to address caregiver’s needs to help them cope with the challenging experience of caring for a family member. CARE Plus is a 5-week group intervention which offers 90-minute weekly educational sessions for groups of 5-10 caregivers. The educational sessions will offer information on AD, its symptoms, tips for improving communication and interactions with the family member, and strategies for reducing caregiver stress. The goal of CARE-Plus is to determine whether a caregiver-based behavioral intervention can reduce behavior problems in individuals with AD and improve caregiver’s emotional well-being. The individual with AD is not involved in the study in any way. Participants in CARE Plus may benefit from gaining information about AD and specific techniques that may help manage behavioral problems associated with AD. Who is eligible to participate?You may be eligible to participate if:
What happens in the study?First, a member of the research team will conduct a telephone screening where she will describe the study and determine the caregiver’s eligibility. If the caregiver is eligible and interested, she will set up a time to meet with the caregiver to further describe the project, consent to participate, and collect information about how Alzheimer’s disease is affecting both the caregiver and the diagnosed individual. This interview, which is done at the caregivers’ convenience, typically takes about 90 minutes. After the interview, the caregiver is assigned to an educational group. After the caregiver has been assigned to a group he/she attends 5 weekly group meetings. At the conclusion of the group and again 3 months later we will ask the caregiver to participate in individual interview with a member of our research team. These interviews will be similar to the initial interview and will take about 90 minutes to complete. Where is the study taking place?The study visits will be conducted at a time and place convenient for the participant. The education/support group will be held at local facilities (e.g. library) throughout greater Boston and surrounding suburbs. How can I find out more?Please contact: Alicia Semiatin, Study Coordinator (617) 353-9124. Key Personnel
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