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ObjectiveSupportive behaviors (both instrumental and emotional) from spouses and close family members can impact the trajectory of older adults' depressive symptoms. Interventions that target both the patient and support person may be more effective than interventions that target the patient only, in terms of alleviating mood symptoms in the identified patient. The purpose of this paper was to review the characteristics and findings of dyadic and family-oriented interventions for late-life mood disorders to determine if they are effective and beneficial.MethodsFollowing PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of reports in the literature on dyadic or family-oriented interventions for late-life mood disorders. We searched PubMed, OVID PsycINFO, and EMBASE for peer-reviewed journal articles in English through October 2014.ResultsWe identified 13 articles, representing a total of 10 independent investigations. Identified studies focused on spouses and close family members as support persons. Effect sizes for dyadic interventions that treated major depressive disorder were, on average, moderately strong, while effect sizes for dyadic interventions that reduced depressive symptoms were generally small. We did not identify any dyadic studies that treated bipolar disorder.ConclusionsThis review showed that dyadic interventions are feasible and that these interventions can decrease symptomatology in individuals who have major depressive disorder. Research is needed to understand the relative efficacy of a dyadic approach over a single-target approach in treating depression. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Introduction: The role of caregiver health literacy in predicting difficulty communicating with health care professionals and navigating services and supports for older adults was examined and informed by the health literacy skills framework (Squiers, Peinade, Berkman, Boudewyns, & McCormack, 2012). Method: Secondary analyses of cross-sectional data from the Pittsburgh Regional Caregivers Survey in 2017 were conducted. A total of 761 caregivers of older adults reported communicating with health care providers and accessing services and supports. Health care provider communication and navigation of services and supports (HCNS) was assessed through self-report questions on communication about needs of the care recipient and caregiver, and the ability to locate and arrange services and supports for the care recipient. Health literacy was assessed with self-report questions on confidence filling out forms, need for help with reading information, and comprehension with written information. A logistic regression was conducted to determine the relationship between health literacy and high HCNS difficulty while controlling for demographic and contextual caregiving characteristics. Results: A fifth of the caregivers demonstrated low health literacy (n = 150, 19.7%). For a caregiver with low health literacy, the odds of having high levels of difficulty with HCNS was 2.52 times larger than the odds for a caregiver with adequate health literacy while controlling for demographic and contextual caregiving factors (odds ratio = 2.52, 95% confidence interval [1.57, 4.06]; p < .001). Discussion: Findings demonstrate that poor caregiver health literacy is an important factor associated with HCNS difficulty. The health literacy of caregivers should be considered for assessments and interventions designed to identify and reduce the difficulty caregivers experience with HCNS.Keywords: health literacy, caregivers, older adults, health care communication, health care system navigation, An estimated 34.2 million informal caregivers provide assistance to older adults with everyday activities and medical management tasks (Family Caregiver Alliance, 2016). These responsibilities often require that caregivers (a) communicate [...]

Date Presented 03/23/24 This study explores tailoring chronic pain OT interventions using the Stages of Change model. Findings suggest progression to more advanced readiness for change, offering promise for more effective delivery of chronic pain OT. Primary Author and Speaker: Sarah McKendry Contributing Authors: Juleen Rodakowski [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/21/24 This study describes adherence and competence obtained by OTs delivering a strategy training intervention protocol to older adults with mild cognitive impairment. Fidelity processes for a randomized controlled trial are discussed. Primary Author and Speaker: Avital S. Isenberg Additional Authors and Speakers: Juleen Rodakowski Contributing Authors: Josh Woolford [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]