Document Type
Article
Publication Date
December 2006
Abstract
Family caregivers, the "second victims" or hidden patients in dementia care, are at risk for social isolation, stress, depression, and mortality. Telephone-based support (telesupport groups) represents a practical, low-burden, low-cost source of emotional support. The present study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of professionally led telephone-based support groups for female family caregivers of community-dwelling dementia patients. Recruited through various community sources, 103 female caregivers were randomized to the telesupport group treatment or a control condition. Effects on caregiver burden, depression, and personal gains were evaluated at 6 months, the main end point. Older caregivers (≥65) in telesupport reported lower depression than control group caregivers did.
Recommended Citation
Winter, Laraine and Gitlin, Laura N., "Evaluation of a telephone-based support group intervention for female caregivers of community-dwelling individuals with dementia" (2006). Center for Applied Research on Aging and Health Research Papers. Paper 13.
https://jdc.jefferson.edu/carah_papers/13
Comments
Embargoed - eligible for release December 2007 - AEK. This article has been peer reviewed. It is the authors' final version prior to publication in The American Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias 21(6):391-397. The published version is available at http://aja.sagepub.com/cgi/content/abstract/21/6/391, or DOI: 10.1177/1533317506291371. Copyright is retained by Sage Publications.