1. "The Community That Takes Care of Itself": A Feasibility Study to Support Families Caring for a Loved One With Alzheimer Disease.
- Author
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Gambella E, Valenza S, Giulietti MV, Gagliardi C, Civerchia P, Fabbietti P, Lattanzio F, and Pelliccioni G
- Subjects
- Caregivers, Feasibility Studies, Humans, Pilot Projects, Quality of Life, Alzheimer Disease therapy
- Abstract
This pilot project was aimed at supporting those families caring at home for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer dementia. Fourteen dyads of "caregivers-loved ones with dementia" were recruited and assigned either to the experimental group (n = 7) or to the control group (n = 7). The experimental group attended a training course, an Alzheimer Café, a self-help group for caregivers, and the support from a volunteer and professional nurse in-home visits, while the control group's dyads attended a standard intervention. To investigate the effects of this integrated and interprofessional model of care, caregivers completed the Caregiver Burden Inventory and 2 ad hoc structured questions to evaluate whether quality of life of the dyads was changed. Moreover, the caregivers of the experimental group completed the Self-Assessment Single Questionnaire, version 6 (Q-UAV6). Only caregivers of the experimental group reported a significant reduction in burden and an improved quality of life of the dyad. They also showed a greater acceptance of the disease, became experts in the care of their loved ones, and improved their relationship. The creation of a service integration network of professionals, volunteers, and families has been shown to be useful in supporting those families caring at home for loved ones suffering from Alzheimer dementia., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)
- Published
- 2022
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