Objective: To replicate and extend P. A. Lichtenberg and colleagues ' (1996) cross-disciplinary intervention to improve physical and mental health among older adults. Participants: 14 depressed older adults (6 treatment, 8 control). Setting: The short-term rehabilitation unit of an urban nursing home. Intervention: Occupational therapists were trained to treat depression using pleasant events and cognitive-behavioral therapies. Outcome Measures: Geriatric Depression Scale, the Short Form-12, and the Multi-Level Assessment Instrument: Activities of Daily Living. Results: No significant group differences were found in physical or mental health. However, more control group members (75%) than treatment group members (33%) were depressed at study completion. Conclusions: The treatment of depressive symptoms can be integrated with a nonmental health treatment modality.

Efficacy of assistive technology continues to evolve as a means of helping individuals with cognitive and intellectual disabilities, asserting the importance of its research. We report outcomes of a six-week randomized control feasibility study in a small cohort of 16 family caregivers of individuals living with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. An experimental group of seven family caregivers used visual mapping software on smart devices (step-by-step pictures, audio, and videos instructing how to complete a task) to support carrying out activities of daily living with their care recipients. In comparison, control group of nine family caregivers used smart devices to access and view educational videos focused on dementia care. After a six-week study, compared to caregivers using educational videos, caregivers using visual maps assistive technology reported higher satisfaction of use and stronger recommendation of use to others. Caregivers using visual maps technology also exhibited more improved quality of life scores and improved completion of activities of daily living for their dementia care recipients, as well as reduced caregiver burden scores compared to the caregivers in the control group. These promising findings show that the use of assistive technology is feasible in the home setting and suggest time is ripe for undertaking systematic studies of assistive technology’s potential to advance effective behavioral interventions in dementia home and family settings.

Background Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) have an enormous impact on persons living with dementia and their care partners. Care partners of people with dementia are more likely to have depression, anxiety, and be isolated, heightened by events like the COVID‐19 pandemic. Connecting individuals to research has been challenging, especially in diverse populations who are disproportionately impacted by ADRD and health and socioeconomic inequities. The Memory Advocate Peers (MAP) Program aims to address these challenges by building and piloting a sustainable, replicable, volunteer peer mentor program to support individuals newly diagnosed with dementia and their care partners, and help to connect them to services. Method The MAP program has been developed and is led by people living with dementia, care partners, community‐based experts in dementia care, and healthcare leaders. The program will give people with dementia and care partners the opportunity to share experiences with a volunteer advocate who has lived experience with dementia, obtain valuable education about how to live well with dementia, connect to community services, and access clinical trials or other research opportunities. Partnerships have been established with New York University‐affiliated neurologists to identify and refer newly diagnosed patients to the program, and with the leading local research programs. Result MAP will recruit and train up to 25 advocates to provide twelve months of post‐diagnostic support to 50 clients and care partners (where applicable), with a focus on under‐represented communities. A research study is embedded within the program to evaluate feasibility, as well as participant quality of life, health resource use, impact on psychological wellbeing, and value of research participation. Conclusion This pilot will be critical in understanding the impact peer‐to‐peer mentorship can have for both the individual with ADRD and the care partner. It will also be critical to develop best practices to recruit, train and support volunteers serving as these peer advocates. Results from the pilot will be used to improve the program prior to expansion to other regions.

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