Resourcefulness Training for Dementia Caregivers

Abstract

Providing care for an elder with dementia can produce extreme stress that adversely affects caregiver health. Learning to be resourceful, which involves practicing resourcefulness skills using a journal or voice recorder, may reduce caregiver stress. However, before testing the effectiveness of journaling and voice recording as resourcefulness training (RT) practice methods, intervention fidelity should first be established. This pilot trial with 63 women dementia caregivers examined the fidelity of journaling and voice recording and whether allowing a choice between the methods affected RT intervention fidelity. Following RT, Resourcefulness Scale scores were similar for journal and recorder methods but higher for caregivers in the choice versus random condition. Patterns of RT skill use documented in journals or recordings were similar for choice and random conditions and for journal and recorder methods. The results support the implementation fidelity of RT that allows caregivers to choose a method to reinforce their resourcefulness skills.

Dementia Caregiver Experiences and Recommendations for Using the Behavioral and Environmental Sensing and Intervention System at Home: Usability and Acceptability Study

“…In addition, 30% (3/10) of the caregivers wanted to record more of their impressions—“I thought a place to put an explanation of what we thought was causing the agitation.” This highlighted the theme of helpfulness and could be an added component in future development of the BESI system. Some studies involve caregiver journals and diaries [ 34 , 35 ] for caregivers to record their thoughts. Web-based caregiver forums are beneficial to caregivers [ 36 ].…”

Tele.TAnDem Increases the Psychosocial Resource Utilization of Dementia Caregivers

“…Based on his results, the author called for the development of resourcefulness interventions to enhance the psychological well-being of dementia caregivers. A pilot trial supported the fidelity of a resourcefulness intervention for dementia caregivers using a journal or voice recorder (Zauszniewski, Lekhak, Burant, Underwood, & Morris, 2016). However, the effectiveness of the resourcefulness training has yet to be examined.…”

Is There More to Resourcefulness Than Personal and Social Skills?

“…In addition, intervention studies show that teaching the skills constituting personal and social resourcefulness within the context of RT are beneficial for health promotion and self-management (Bekhet et al, 2012; Gonzalez et al, 2014; Musil et al, 2015; Toly et al, 2014; Zauszniewski et al, 2007; Zauszniewski, Lekhak, Burant, Variath, & Morris, 2016; Zauszniewski, Musil, Burant, & Au, 2014). However, when findings describing the implementation fidelity of RT are examined in relation to findings regarding RT effectiveness (Zauszniewski, Lekhak, Burant, Underwood, & Morris, 2016; Zauszniewski, Lekhak, Burant, Variath, & Morris, 2016; Zauszniewski, Musil, Burant, & Au, 2014; Zauszniewski, Musil, Burant, Standing, & Au, 2014), one might speculate that intervention recipients could have used skills other than those taught during RT, which may have positively affected their health outcomes, that is, skills not discussed or measured in those studies, such as those reflecting spiritual practices (e.g., prayer or meditation).…”