The overall goal of the Internet-Based Savvy Caregiver (IBSC) program was to develop and bring to market an Internet-based psycho-educational program designed to provide dementia caregivers the knowledge, skills, and outlook they need to undertake and succeed in the caregiving role they have assumed. The IBSC program's concept is based on a face-to-face caregiver-training program and curriculum, the previously validated Savvy Caregiver Program (SCP). The project used an iterative design with expert and consumer input to develop the initial prototype. Forty-seven participants completed the IBSC program and follow-up questionnaire. Results of the formative evaluation showed that participants found the program educational, convenient, useful, and interesting. Participants endorsed feeling more confident in caregiving skills and communication with their family members. The evidence points to the feasibility of an Internet-based program to strengthen family caregivers' confidence in caring for persons with dementia.
The current project tested the feasibility and utility of the CARES® Dementia-Friendly Hospital™ (CDFH) program, a 4-module, online training program for nursing assistants (NAs) and allied hospital workers (AHWs) who provide care to individuals with dementia. A single group pretest/posttest design was used for 25 hospital NAs/AHWs, and quantitative and qualitative data were collected to determine whether NAs’/AHWs’ knowledge of hospital-based dementia care significantly increased, and if CDFH was perceived as useful and acceptable. Dementia care knowledge increased significantly (p < 0.001). Open- and closed-ended data suggested that the delivery of online training to NAs/AHWs to enhance dementia care is feasible, useful, and efficient. Ongoing gaps in care exist for individuals with dementia in hospitals, and delivering robust training for NAs/AHWs may serve as an effective modality to enhance quality of dementia care in such settings.
This study evaluated an internet-based training module, CARES,® (Connect with the resident; Assess behavior; Respond appropriately; Evaluate what works; Share with the team;) to determine its feasibility for certified nurse assistants in 3 nursing homes and 1 assisted living facility. Preand post-test questionnaires were administered to certified nurse assistants (CNAs; N = 40) to determine improvements in dementia care knowledge and perceptions of competence in dementia care. Dementia care knowledge improved significantly after CARES® training. Over 85% of the sample agreed or strongly agreed that the CARES® protocol improved mastery, care competency, and reduced stress related to dementia resident care. Open-ended feedback indicated that CARES® provided new information and skills to CNAs pertaining to dementia care. The results suggest that internet-based programs such as CARES® represent time-and cost-efficient methods to deliver dementia care training in long-term care settings.
Future research should investigate how best to maintain educational interventions within the caregiving environment and to assess subsequent skill change.
Challenges to intervention use among family caregivers of individuals with dementia include availability and timing of delivery. The current study sought to determine whether an online, psychoeducational intervention for dementia family caregivers, CARES® Dementia Care for Families™ (CARES for Families), improved and enhanced dementia caregivers’ knowledge of person-centered care approaches. Forty-one family members completed pre- and posttest surveys that assessed improvement in dementia care knowledge, and multiple close- and open-ended items examined how the CARES for Families online modules benefited users at posttest. A paired t test demonstrated a significant and considerable increase in dementia care knowledge among family caregivers (p < 0.001); caregivers also indicated that CARES for Families’ content, flexibility, and use of actual family caregivers and individuals with dementia in video care vignettes were strengths. The findings suggest that CARES for Families can offer an efficient supplement to holistic dementia care that gerontological nurses provide.
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