International Psychogeriatrics
- International Psychogeriatrics / Volume 24 / Issue 02 / February 2012, pp 212-222
- Copyright © International Psychogeriatric Association 2011
- DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S1041610211001827 (About DOI), Published online: 14 October 2011
Research Article
Dementelcoach: effect of telephone coaching on carers of community-dwelling people with dementia
Lisa D. van Mierloa1a2, Franka J. M. Meilanda1a2 and Rose-Marie Dröesa1a2 c1
a1 VU University Medical Centre, Department of Psychiatry/Alzheimer Centre, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
a2 VU University Medical Centre, Department of Nursing Home Medicine/Alzheimer Centre, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
ABSTRACT
Background: Dementelcoach is a new telephone intervention to support informal caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia. The effectiveness of this intervention was evaluated on burden and mental health problems of informal caregivers.
Methods: A pre-test/post-test comparison group design was used with three groups of informal caregivers. Two of the groups were experimental and received either (1) telephone coaching or (2) telephone coaching in combination with respite care (psychogeriatric day care); the third was a comparison group which received day care only. Telephone coaching was offered by trained coaches once every two to three weeks over a period of 20 weeks.
Results: Informal caregivers who received telephone coaching in combination with respite care reported significantly less burden compared to caregivers who received telecoaching only, and they experienced significantly fewer mental health problems than those who received day care only.
Conclusion: Telecoaching according to the principles of Dementelcoach combined with respite care (psychogeriatric day care) is more effective in reducing burden and health complaints in informal caregivers of community-dwelling people with dementia than telecoaching or day care only.
(Received April 19 2011)
(Revised June 02 2011)
(Revised August 03 2011)
(Accepted August 09 2011)
(Online publication October 14 2011)
Correspondence:
c1 Correspondence should be addressed to: Professor Dr. R.M. Dröes, VU University Medical Centre, Department of Psychiatry/Alzheimer Centre, EMGO Institute for Health and Care Research, Valeriusplein 9, 1075 BG Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Phone: +31–20-7885454; Fax: +31-20-6737458. Email: rm.dröes@vumc.nl.
