DementelCoach: effect of telephone coaching on carers of community dwelling people with dementia

1. VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, the Netherlands Department of Psychiatry L.D. van Mierlo (MSc), F.J.M. Meiland (PhD), R.M. Dröes (PhD) Correspondence: rm.droes@vumc.nl DementelCoach: effect of telephone coaching on carersof community dwelling people with dementia Background Taking care of community dwelling people with dementia is often a burdensome task for informal carers. Though a lot of effective support services are available, many carers hesitate to use them. In the region Amersfoort/ Leusden (NL) a new intervention is started to provide emotional, social and practical support. This study evaluates this new intervention called the DementelCoach, that aims to support informal carers by telephone coaching provided by professional carers. DementelCoach intervention Professional carers provide telephone coaching to carers of community dwelling people with dementia. The support is provided once in two or three weeks during a period of 20 weeks. The professional carers are specially trained employees of care organisations and they have experience in the field of dementia care. The support they offer is on top of their job and is separately paid for. • Results • Decreased burden in informal carers in combined group compared to telecoaching only. (SSCQ) • Decreased mental health complaints in informal carers in combined group compared to day care only. (GHQ-28) • High satisfaction among informal carers. (self- constructed questionnaire) • No significant differences in work satisfaction (MAS-GZ, VVBA) and self-esteem between professional caregivers (Rosenberg, self- esteem questionnaire). • Research Goals • The aim of this research is to: • Study the effect of the DementelCoach on the burden and health complaints of informal carers of community dwelling people with dementia. • Study the effect of the DementelCoach on work satisfaction and self-esteem in professional carers who work as coaches. • Evaluate the content and execution of the DementelCoach intervention. Methods Pretest-posttest controlgroup design with three groups of informal carers. Exp.group 1: 70 informal carers who receive telephone support from a professional carer. Exp.group 2: 70 informal carers receiving telephone support and respite care: day care center for person with dementia. Control group: 70 informal carers not receiving telephone support, only receiving respite care. Randomised Clinical trial design with two groups of professional carers. Exp.group: 65 professional carers providing telephone support Control group: 65 professional carers providing support as usual. Conclusions Telecoaching combined with psychogeriatric day care was more effective in reducing burden and health complaints in informal caregivers of community dwelling people with dementia, than telecoaching or day care only. This project is funded by the Transitionprogram in longterm care from the Ministry of Public Health, Welfare and Sports